Beidou.

This is coolbert:

It is as I thought. [of course it as I thought. A pat on the back to myself.]

The Chinese DO now have their own operational GPS [Ground Positioning System]. At present only covers the domestic Chinese market but shortly will be a world-wide phenomenon.

Thanks to StrategyPage.

"Chinese GPS Open For Business"

"January 14, 2013: China recently opened Beidou (its version of GPS or ('Global Positioning System') to civilian use and expects to grab a major share of the satellite navigation market from the original U.S GPS system by the end of the decade. Currently China has 14 of 35 Beidou ('Compass') navigation satellites in service. This is sufficient to provide GPS type service for all of China. By the end of the decade all 35 satellites will be up and the entire planet will have access to Beidou."

"The Chinese Compass network incorporates the best features of the Russian GLONASS and European Galileo systems, as well as items planned for the next generation GPS satellites."

American GPS, European Galileo, Russian GLONASS and now Beidou. all in competition.

The Chinese able to incorporate into Beidou the "best features" of all pre-existing systems and I am sure a secure and secret capability beyond the normal..

Accuracy of these GPS for CIVILIAN USE normally state as around 100 meters. In time of war, encryption also capable to deny GPS to the adversary. And if an on-board GPS is receiving signals from the satellites and a ground radio transmitter sending signals from a survey position, the accuracy is measure in centimeters!! So is my understanding.

coolbert.