Tech Giants: Starting from Bankrupt Companies

339: Chapter 339 The War for Orbital ResourcesIn September in Vienna, the ginkgo leaves at Schönbrunn Palace were just beginning to turn yellow.

The United Nations Office at Vienna, located on the banks of the Danube, is a modern glass building.

The conference hall of the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space is on the seventeenth floor of Building C. Through the floor-to-ceiling windows, one can see the entire city of Vienna—the spire of St. Stephen’s Cathedral, the Ferris wheel at the Prater amusement park, and the winding Danube River.

But at this moment, no one had the heart to look at the scenery.

Inside the conference hall, under crystal chandeliers, representatives from over a hundred countries sat around a massive circular table.

The air was filled with the atmosphere peculiar to diplomatic occasions—perfume, coffee, and an undercurrent of tension.

The United Nations emblem hung on the podium at the front.

The screens on both sides displayed the topic of today’s meeting: ”Emergency Consultations on Regulating the Order of Low-Orbit Satellite Launches.”

Jonathan Black, the United States representative, was the first to stand up.

The fifty-five-year-old Black was a seasoned diplomat who had worked at the State Department for thirty years, rising from a junior clerk to Assistant Secretary of State for space affairs.

He wore a dark blue suit, his tie knotted meticulously, and his hair combed neatly.

But at this moment, his voice was impassioned, as if denouncing an act of aggression.

”Mr. Chairman, Xingchen Technology has launched over three hundred satellites in the past month. They plan to launch twenty thousand within ten years! This is a plundering of orbital resources, a colonization of outer space!”

On the screen behind him, a diagram of the Xingchen tianting project appeared—densely packed satellites, like a net, covering the entire Earth.

”The United States demands an immediate freeze on all Xingchen launch activities until the international community establishes fair rules for orbital allocation!”

As Black finished speaking, some national representatives began to whisper among themselves.

The British representative nodded. The Japanese representative nodded. The Australia representative also nodded.

But more people were observing the reaction of the China representative.

Li Jianguo slowly stood up.

The fifty-eight-year-old Li Jianguo was the Deputy Director of the China National Space Administration, responsible for international affairs.

He wore a dark gray suit, his hair was half-white, and he always had a gentle smile on his face.

But those who knew him understood that behind this smile lay logic as sharp as a scalpel.

He was not angry, nor did he even raise his voice.

He simply opened a PowerPoint presentation.

”Mr. Black, the United States is demanding a freeze on Xingchen’s launches. Let’s look at the data first—”

The big screen switched.

Current Status of Low Earth Orbit Resource Occupation (as of September 2018)

United States: Cumulative satellites launched: 3,287

Of which SpaceX Starlink: 1,560

Occupying golden frequency bands in low Earth orbit: 40%

Occupying C-band: 35%

Occupying Ku-band: 42%

Li Jianguo closed his folder and looked up, staring directly at Black.

”The United States occupies forty percent of low Earth orbit resources and has cumulatively launched over three thousand satellites, yet now you accuse others of ’grabbing resources’?”

He paused, his voice remaining calm:

”If we are truly going to freeze, then let’s start with the United States. Let’s start with Starlink.”

Black’s expression changed.

Low murmurs arose in the conference hall.

European Union representative Hans Schmidt stood up, attempting to mediate.

The sixty-two-year-old Schmidt was German, had worked at the European Space Agency for thirty years, and was an authority in the field of space law.

He wore a light gray suit, gold-rimmed glasses, and spoke in a measured, deliberate manner.

”We advocate for orderly development. Orbital resources are the common heritage of all mankind and cannot be monopolized by a few countries.”

The Germany representative nodded. The French representative also nodded.

But the Eastern Europe countries were not having it.

Poland representative André Kowalski stood up directly.

The fifty-year-old Kowalski was the chief representative of the Polish Space Agency; he was mostly bald, but his eyes were bright.

”Mr. Schmidt, Poland has already reached an agreement with Xingchen to launch our country’s first communication satellite using their rocket next year. If launches are frozen, what will happen to our satellite?”

The Hungary representative followed up:

”Hungary is the same. We have waited ten years and finally have the opportunity to own our own satellite.”

Representatives from the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Romania nodded in succession.

Schmidt looked embarrassed.

Black seized the opportunity to counter-attack:

”The Eastern Europe countries have booked spots on Xingchen’s rockets, so of course, they are speaking up for them. Is this fair?”

Li Jianguo smiled again:

”Mr. Black, the Eastern Europe countries chose Xingchen because Xingchen’s quote is only half that of the United States, and their delivery time is three years faster than the United States. Isn’t this the result of fair competition? Or are you saying that in your eyes, only when American companies monopolize the market is it called fair?”

Black was left speechless.

The meeting continued until noon without any results.

Black finally threatened:

”If Xingchen continues to launch, the United States will take unilateral action.”

Li Jianguo looked at him and said slowly:

”Unilateral action? In space? Mr. Black, are you intending to wage a satellite war?”

The entire hall went quiet.

Black did not speak.

The Chairman struck the gavel:

”The meeting is adjourned. We will continue in the afternoon.”

But everyone knew—there would be no results in the afternoon either.

When the arguments in Vienna reached New York, it was the busiest time at JFK Airport.

At 4:00 PM, there were long lines in front of the Delta Air Lines check-in counters.

But they were not ordinary travelers.

They were patients.

People in wheelchairs, on crutches, and using oxygen.

Some were pushing portable ventilators, some had IV bags hanging, and some wore masks, revealing pale complexions.

A middle-aged woman was pushing her father, who was sitting in a wheelchair, standing in the middle of the line.

She was about forty-five years old, dressed in simple casual clothes, with bloodshot eyes.

Her father was in his seventies, with completely white hair and vacant eyes—advanced Alzheimer’s disease; he no longer recognized his daughter.

A CNN reporter popped up from somewhere and thrust a microphone in front of her:

”Ma’am, where are you headed?”

She looked at the camera and said:

”Switzerland. Basel.”

”Why are you going to Switzerland?”

She smiled bitterly:

”My father has advanced Alzheimer’s disease; there is no medicine in the United States. Xingchen’s ’Yiqi’ has been approved in Switzerland. We sold our house to take him for treatment.”

The reporter pressed: ”What do you call yourselves?”

She was silent for a second.

”Medical refugees.”

This term trended on Twitter that night.

September 11th, 10:00 AM, Zurich Airport, Switzerland.

The airport arrivals hall was packed with wheelchairs.

Blue, gray, black—wheelchairs of various colors lined up in a row, stretching from the customs exit all the way to the baggage claim area.

The people pushing the wheelchairs included young children, middle-aged couples, and caregivers.

The Swiss Tourism Board had set up a special ”Medical Reception Desk.”

A long table, three staff members, and a sign standing behind them:

”Xingchen Medical Visa—48-hour processing, you are welcome.”

An elderly American man in a wheelchair was being interviewed by Swiss television.

He was about eighty years old, wearing a plaid shirt; although he was in a wheelchair, his spirits were still quite good.

”I waited for the FDA in the United States for eight months, and they are still ’reviewing’ it. My son helped me apply for a Swiss visa, and it was approved in two days. Two days!”

The reporter asked: ”What is your take on the United States government’s delay?”

The old man smiled, a smile filled with bitterness and irony:

”What is my take? I’m sitting in a wheelchair to see it.”