On a separate note, I've been wondering how Tesla's relationship with China will affect Starlink. When I first learned about Musk's satellite internet plans, I was optimistic that it could bring unfettered internet access to the billion+ people subject to aggressive internet censorship. Now I doubt Musk will go against a country that is providing over a 1/5th of his car sales.
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Starlink requires bi-directional user terminals - they're not just a passive dish, but also a transmitter. That means whereever in the world you deploy them, unless you're in international waters, you're going to need a spectrum license. SpaceX won't be going against any countries - they'd just end up with their users going to jail.
If SpaceX wants to deploy in China, it will be on China's terms. I think that Tesla's chinese factory doesn't greatly change that. SpaceX will get permission to sell to users in China only if the Chinese leadership thinks it's in China's and their interests.
I'd also argue that there is basically 0 chance that China thinks putting telecommunications infrastructure under a US companies control is in their interest.
Well, it might happen as part of a quid pro quo deal. China also has plans in this space: http://www.ecns.cn/news/sci-tech/2018-09-19/detail-ifyyehna1...
If China wants access to the US market for Hongyan, SpaceX and the FCC might be able to negotiate some form of access for Starlink to the Chinese market. Likely this would involve access from China relayed through Chinese ground gateways.
Sure, but I think that China would rather keep the US out of their infrastructure than get into the US infrastructure, and the reverse. Neither side seems likely to make such a deal.
China especially heavily leverages their infrastructure for geopolitical purposes. Censoring and monitoring inside the country, launching attacks outside of the country, etc. I really doubt they want the US to get any leverage in the form of controlling some of the nodes, even if they are supposed to by agreement only route traffic from inside China to inside China.
China could always license the use of Starlink connections to certified Chinese ISPs which they trust to wire them up through the government provided censorship box.
Radio spectrum is regulated by virtually every country on their own land. As a result, companies wanting to beam data into / out of each country have to work with local regulators for legal access. This means working with the Chinese government which also likely means going in / out the great firewall of china. It has nothing to do with Musk going against China, but if you want to play in a country, you play by their rules and respect their laws. Personally, I just imagine how much Starlink is going to help much of rural Africa and some of the most (internet-wise) under-served parts of the world.
Starlink doesn't mean that magically Russia, Cuba, and North Korea are all going to have unfettered internet access.
Starlink is done by SpaceX, not Tesla.
Why do you think China will make that distinction?
I doubt they'll see any difference between them though.
Chinese government might not care too much about this kind of corporate details. Elon & Tesla will simply be kicked off China if he tries to mess with communists censorship rules.