China Plans 1,000-Satellite Network to Watch Over Central Asia
Russia Bans Diesel Exports Amid Heavy Ukraine Attacks On Refineries Pakistan activates trade corridors through… Eurasianet is an independent news organization that covers news from and about the South Caucasus and Central Asia, providing on-the-ground reporting and critical perspectives on… China is planning to deploy a constellation of over 1,000 remote-sensing satellites to observe Central Asia, according to China’s official news outletsXinhuaand ThePeople’s Daily.
The first batch of five satellites of the Tianwu Constellation is expected to be launched into orbit by the end of 2026.
The project is presented as a combined initiative with Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan, with a declared purpose of monitoring environmental developments and reducing the potential harm caused by natural disasters and climate change.
However, remote-sensing satellites are known as “eyes in the sky” capable of collecting all sorts of data for civil or military purposes.
Notably, the satellites will belong to China, and all the collected data will be processed in the PRC; Central Asian states will have limited access to it.
Kai-Fu Lee, the head of 01.AI, a startup based in Beijing and backed by Alibaba and Xiaomi, organized a “strategic seminar” for the Kazakh governmentattended by most members of the Cabinet of Ministersand many other top officials.
The seminar sought to influence officials on what AI model to choose, and how to implement and use it.
US and Chinese AI models, which differ markedly,are competing for predominancein Central Asia.
Kai-Fu Lee is a member of Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s Artificial Intelligence Council, advising the head of the Kazakh state on AI-related matters.
In addition, China’s Beijing Zhongguancun Tongli Technology Service Co., Ltd signed a deal with Kazakhstan’s Astana AI Film Festival Foundation to jointly finance, produce and distribute AI-generated media content,reportsKazinform.
China is expanding cooperation with Central Asian states in water management.
Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation signed a deal with the PRC’s embassy in Astana for the Kazakh National University of Water Management and Irrigation and the North China University of Water Resources and Electric Power to start a joint degree program under which Kazakh water-management professionals will be able to study in the PRC,reportsDKNews.kz.
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