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GPS tracking and navigation technology is used all over the world, but is owned and operated by the U.S. military. The U.S. Global Positional System (GPS) can pin-point the exact location of tracking devices, by sending signals from satellites orbiting Earth. This technology was originally developed for government and military purposes, but has since been released for public and commercial use. It has revolutionized countless industries. GPS tracking is used for military tactics, emergency response teams, animal research, security and much more. Just as 2011 was coming to a close, China announced the launch of a similar technology, called the Beidou Navigation Satellite System.

The Beidou system has been in the works since 2000. This recent launch is a small part of a much larger plan for a global system, called Compass. As of now, the Beidou system is providing tracking and navigation services to China and surrounding areas. By 2020, the plan is to have 35 satellites feeding into the Compass system. China is not the only country working on GPS tracking technology rivals. Russia currently has an operating global system, called Glonass, and the European Union is working on their Galileo system, which is supposed to launch by 2020.

“Although China still has a long way to go before it has continuous real-time tactical coverage, even of a regional maritime environment, it now has frequent and dependable coverage of stationary targets and at least a basic ability to identify, track and target vessels at sea,” wrote Eric Hagt and Matthew Durnin, in an article published in the Journal of Strategic Studies in October. “Based purely on capabilities, with a space-based reconnaissance system as the backbone, China is clearly acquiring greater ability not only to defend against intruding aircraft carriers but to project force as well.”