Authored by Jon Sun and Michael Zhuang via The Epoch Times (emphasis ours),

In its latest attempt to challenge the United States' space dominance and SpaceX's Starlink, China launched a low-orbit satellite constellation capable of surveilling every corner of the earth.

According to Chinese state media, the first batch of 18 satellites in the constellation dubbed "Qianfan" or "thousand sails" was launched into orbit by state-controlled Shanghai Yuxin Satellite Technology Company on Aug. 6. The entire project is a future network of 14,000 satellites, offering multiple services, including direct-to-device connectivity. Half of those spacecraft will be launched by the end of next year and another half by the end of 2027.

Starlink, owned by the U.S. company SpaceX, has provided Ukraine with internet and communication services, a critical element to sustain the nation in its war with Russia. As of Aug. 2, the network had about 7,000 satellites in orbit, making it the largest low-orbit constellation in the world.