This Hybrid CoE Paper addresses China's use of cross-cutting technologies as part of hybrid threats in space and emanating from space. First, an understanding of Chinese strategy and doctrine is important to characterize activities across domains, including information operations. Next, the Paper assesses cross-cutting technologies, including artificial intelligence (AI), quantum technologies, and advances in hardware, as well as the associated risks (e.g., escalation), including to Chinese systems themselves. Finally, the Paper examines the implications for NATO and EU member states across domains in the event of hybrid threats to their space capabilities.

Over the last decade, the People's Republic of China has emerged as a strategic competitor to the EU and NATO, presenting a systemic challenge to the existing international order. This rebalancing of power is acutely felt in the space domain, where China has invested heavily. This Hybrid CoE Paper looks at China's rapidly expanding space-based capabilities and their potential for misuse in hybrid threat operations. It examines the role of space in Chinese strategy, while also providing readers with a basic understanding of Chinese intelligence-gathering capabilities. It concludes by considering the implications of these developments for the EU and NATO.