UPDATE - China launches new group of satellites for low-orbit technology tests

UPDATES WITH CLAIMS BY CHINESE MINISTRY OF STATE SECURITY; CHANGES DECK

By Anadolu staff

ISTANBUL (AA) - China successfully launched a new group of satellites on Wednesday, state media reported.

The Yaogan-43 03 satellite group was launched from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in the Sichuan province and successfully entered its preset orbit.

These satellites will primarily be used to test new technologies for low-orbit constellations, advancing China’s capabilities in space technology.

This mission marks the 542nd successful launch of the Chinese-built Long March rocket series, which carried the satellites into orbit.

Last week, China launched another satellite group, continuing its rapid pace of space missions.

Meanwhile, China's Ministry of State Security claimed that foreign intelligence agencies were "conducting remote sensing detection" with the intent of observing and stealing secrets from space.

Without naming anyone, it alleged that the intelligence agencies of certain countries had "infiltrated China’s aerospace sector, using bribery, networking, and coercion to target Chinese researchers and steal cutting-edge advancements in aerospace technology."