8/27/2014
BEIJING – China’s observation satellite Gaofen 1, launched in April 2013 to obtain high-resolution images of the earth’s crust, has spotted secret cross-border tunnels between China and neighboring countries such as North Korea and Central Asian nations.
Quoting the National Space Administration on Tuesday, the official news agency Xinhua reported that the images picked up by the satellite show “dozens” of these illegal structures located at two borders of great strategic importance to the Asian giant.
Although there is no official information about the presumed use of these passageways, Chinese media said those at the North Korean border were used by thousands of people who, in the last decade, fled hunger and repression under the communist North Korean regime and are considered illegal immigrants by China.
Other passages on the border with the troubled northwestern Chinese region of Xinjiang could be linked to alleged terrorist groups active in the area, scene of clashes between police and groups suspected to be affiliated to Al-Qaeda.
The initial findings of the Gaofen-1 satellite have given rise to much debate in China because at first it was thought that it had spotted the biggest marijuana plantation on Chinese territory.
However, the country’s public security minister denied that possibility, while the original statement of the state administration was removed from the official webpage.
In any case, this is the first time that Chinese official authorities have revealed findings of the satellite pertaining to public security.
On Aug 19, China launched the Geofen-2, another satellite equipped with high-resolution cameras, that is expected to boost the observation capacity from space.
source
BEIJING – China’s observation satellite Gaofen 1, launched in April 2013 to obtain high-resolution images of the earth’s crust, has spotted secret cross-border tunnels between China and neighboring countries such as North Korea and Central Asian nations.Quoting the National Space Administration on Tuesday, the official news agency Xinhua reported that the images picked up by the satellite show “dozens” of these illegal structures located at two borders of great strategic importance to the Asian giant.
Although there is no official information about the presumed use of these passageways, Chinese media said those at the North Korean border were used by thousands of people who, in the last decade, fled hunger and repression under the communist North Korean regime and are considered illegal immigrants by China.
Other passages on the border with the troubled northwestern Chinese region of Xinjiang could be linked to alleged terrorist groups active in the area, scene of clashes between police and groups suspected to be affiliated to Al-Qaeda.
The initial findings of the Gaofen-1 satellite have given rise to much debate in China because at first it was thought that it had spotted the biggest marijuana plantation on Chinese territory.
However, the country’s public security minister denied that possibility, while the original statement of the state administration was removed from the official webpage.
In any case, this is the first time that Chinese official authorities have revealed findings of the satellite pertaining to public security.
On Aug 19, China launched the Geofen-2, another satellite equipped with high-resolution cameras, that is expected to boost the observation capacity from space.
source
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