Strategic Intent: China Pushes to Commercialize In-House BeiDou Satellite System

Experts say the move would allow Beijing to expand its reach to more countries

A Long March-3B carrier rocket carrying the 24th and 25th BeiDou navigation satellites takes off from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in Xichang, China, on Nov. 5, 2017. Wang Yulei/China News Service/VCG via Getty Images

The Chinese mapping service application Baidu Maps now prioritizes the use of China’s in-house BeiDou Navigation Satellite System (BDS) over the U.S.-operated Global Positioning System (GPS).

Analysts believe the move would allow the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) to expand the reach and use of its in-house satellite navigation system to more countries.