On October 5, 2026, Space & Satellite Professionals International (SSPI) released Episode 5 of its Collateral Risk podcast series, examining the legal, regulatory, and policy friction impacting cross-border commercial space ventures between the United States and China.
Hosted by SSPI Executive Director Tamara Bond-Williams, the episode features a discussion with Fuhua Ni, Founding and Managing Partner of Shanghai Zenith Law Firm, focusing on navigating export controls and establishing formal industry channels between regional space ecosystems.
Regulatory Friction and Export Control Mechanisms
China’s commercial space sector has expanded rapidly following initial market liberalization policy shifts in 2014, yet its domestic legal and regulatory infrastructure remains distributed across multiple government agencies and regional jurisdictions. During the discussion, Ni detailed how international commercial law practices interface with complex space law structures, highlighting the operational constraints imposed by trade compliance regimes including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), Export Administration Regulations (EAR), and the Congressional Wolf Amendment.
The episode also evaluates a proposed Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) report assessing potential avenues for bilateral US–China space cooperation, alongside the challenges of managing dual-use technologies where commercial systems support national security functions.
Defense Integration and International Chapter Formation
The broadcast forms part of SSPI’s broader The Defense of Space sector campaign, launched alongside the Collateral Risk podcast series to address the strategic exposure created as military operations integrate commercial low Earth orbit (LEO) constellations. The initiative investigates legal frameworks governing satellite targeting during conflict, the extent of US commitments to defend commercial space infrastructure, and operational implications surrounding NATO’s Article 5 space declarations.
To build durable cross-border industry relationships and facilitate regulatory dialogue, Ni is currently leading the preparatory group to establish an official SSPI China chapter. The professional network aims to provide commercial space operators, legal professionals, and policy analysts with a structured forum to address emerging space governance, mediation, and arbitration protocols as commercial space assets become increasingly central to global commerce and national security architectures.
