China’s Global Positioning System

April 24 marked the inauguration of Chinas Space Day， designated by the Chinese Government to celebrate the countrys space program. That days significance is derived from Chinas launch of its first satellite， Dongfanghong-1， in 1970. Chinas astronautic industry has made great strides since then. As part of this rapidly advancing sector， the homegrown BeiDou Navigation Satellite System （BDS） has fueled anticipation for Chinas technological development.

Since its inception more than 20 years ago， the BDS has evolved into a highly complex system consisting of 22 satellites in service. It is currently available to users in both China and several of its neighboring countries in Southeast Asia. The BDS aims to provide basic services for countries along the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st-Century Maritime Silk Road， spanning across Asia， Africa and Europe， by 2018. The goal is to build a network of 35 satellites and offer global coverage by 2020， which will make the BDS an established global positioning system alongside the United States Global Positioning System （GPS）， Russias Global Navigation Satellite System （GLONASS） and Europes Galileo satellite navigation system.

In addition to providing basic positioning， navigation and time services like the other three systems， the BDS can also send users location information to other people through text messages. This unprecedented technology is of great significance in disaster relief as well as search and rescue missions in regions where regular telecommunications services are unavailable.

China is developing the BDS as part of its efforts to independently build its aerospace program. The system is hoped to greatly improve the nations international status， in addition to promoting Chinas social and economic development and safeguarding national security.

Some have expressed concern that the BDS will enhance Chinas military capabilities. Part of this stems from how the GPS and GLONASS came to fruition. The two systems were born out of the Cold War. Europes Galileo is also part of the Common Security and Defense Policy， previously known as the Common European Security and Defense Policy.

However， the BDS places greater importance on civilian purposes， such as transportation， marine fishery， surveying and mapping， weather forecasting， as well as disaster prevention and relief.

For instance， with the help of the BDS， container operations at the port of Tianjin in north China have become more accurate， resulting in added efficiency and reduced costs.

Moreover， China feels it has an international obligation to create the BDS to serve not only itself， but the world at large. China has carried out extensive international cooperation with relevant international organizations as well as countries and regions along the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st-Century Maritime Silk Road in developing the positioning system. The expectation is for the BDS to serve the world and benefit mankind as a whole.