China launches new ground station to enhance satellite data reception

China's Lijiang remote sensing satellite ground station -- one of China's space-ground information ports -- was officially put into use on Friday in southwest China's Yunnan Province.

The satellite data reception station, a key component of the nation's remote sensing satellite ground station network, was constructed by the Aerospace Information Research Institute (AIR) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, and marks a significant milestone in China's space observation capabilities.

Located at an altitude of 2,827 meters, the Lijiang station benefits from its high-altitude position, minimal surrounding mountain obstruction, and excellent electromagnetic environment.These factors contribute to its superior geographical advantage for satellite data reception. Since its trial operation began in March 2023, the station has already demonstrated its crucial role in China's space observation network. It has successfully undertaken data reception tasks for 26 national satellites, including those from the ZY series, the Huanjing series, and the Gaofen series.

The station is equipped with four satellite antenna reception systems, boasting a maximum downlink data rate of 2,000 megabits per second.

This advanced infrastructure enables almost real-time data transmission capabilities, with key technical indicators meeting international advanced standards.

The Lijiang ground station effectively fills the gap in real-time reception of satellites orbiting below 500 kilometers in China's southwestern region. In the event of major natural disasters, it can provide urgently-needed spatial data support with high efficiency, meeting the high-timeliness application needs for disaster reduction and prevention.

In recent years, China's rapid development of the space industry has significantly increased demand for satellite data reception.

China's remote sensing satellite ground stations play an important role in advancing scientific research and supporting industrial applications.

Over three decades, China has built an operational system of remote sensing satellite ground stations.

Headquartered in Beijing, this network includes five ground stations in Miyun in suburban Beijing; Kashgar in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region; Sanya on south China's island province of Hainan; Lijiang in southwest China's Yunnan Province; and Mohe, China's northernmost city.

China launches new ground station to enhance satellite data reception

Nicaragua's co-foreign minister Valdrack Jaentschke has warned that militarism must never be allowed to rise again, as Japan's recent moves to lift its arms export ban and revise the pacifist Constitution continue to draw international concern.

This year marks the 80th anniversary of the opening of the Tokyo Trials, where Japan's Class-A war criminals from World War II were brought to justice.

In an interview with China Global Television Network (CGTN), Valdrack Jaentschke voiced his concern that today's world order is being undermined by interventionism and other challenges.

"It is necessary for us to remember that after the end of World War II, countries worked hard to build a new international order based on international law. However, regrettably, more than 80 years later, we are seeing that this once explored and attempted order is being challenged by interventionism, a confrontational mindset, and tendencies like 'might makes right.' These are precisely the conditions that gave rise to fascism and militarism in the past, which ultimately led to the tragedy of World War II," he said.

He said the international community has a responsibility to pursue a new international order -- one fundamentally grounded in peace.

"Looking back at the history more than eight decades ago and comparing it with today's reality, it is our responsibility to recognize that the world should, and must, build a new international order that is more just, fairer, rooted in international law, based on a logic of mutual benefit and shared success, and fundamentally grounded in peace," said the minister.

"Today, as we revisit the Tokyo Trials, it is meant to remind the world that such a tragedy must never be repeated -- and that we must do everything in our power to prevent it from happening again. We must stop that dark world -- born from militarism, interventionism, and fascism -- from ever returning," he said.

Nicaraguan FM warns of militarism revival