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Editor’s Note: We get really tired of these ‘superpower’
articles on China. They are an economic powerhouse already, similar to
the US during the beginning of the Industrial revolution. They do have
social-economic issues that could cripple their country if they don’t
take it seriously. They are becoming more of a military superpower,
threatening to cast a large shadow over allies such as Britain. China
you are on your way, just don’t gloat while your country is in a
boom/bust cycle.
By the year 2020 China’s satellite navigation system “Beidou” will become global, making it one step closer to becoming a superpower. E. Peitzyan, a member of the All-Chinese Committee of the People’s Political Consultative Congress of China, had made an announcement to this effect. The Chinese Beidou will become a real competitor for the Russian GLONASS and the US GPS.
By the year 2020 China’s satellite navigation system “Beidou” will become global, making it one step closer to becoming a superpower. E. Peitzyan, a member of the All-Chinese Committee of the People’s Political Consultative Congress of China, had made an announcement to this effect. The Chinese Beidou will become a real competitor for the Russian GLONASS and the US GPS.
The Beidou system will be able to service its clients all over the
world in the area of positioning, navigation and timing with a great
degree of precision and reliability. For that purpose, a group of 35
satellites will be created. Currently, the group contains 19 spacecraft
and it is able to offer navigation services to the majority of Asian
countries. China offered its Beidou navigators to those countries at the
end of last year and is three years ahead of its deadline, points out
Andrey Ionov, an independent expert:
“I want to stress that for the Chinese space programs such speed has not been seen yet. They are usually a lot slower. Why such fast speed? How should one take the stated term of 2020? I believe that everything will be finished earlier; there are no obstacles to China realizing this program even prior to 2020. It will all primarily depend on the situation in the world.”
Today, all consumers in the world can use the signal of the Russia GLONASS and the US GPS. They guarantee complete reliability of the service. What is then the purpose of the Chinese global navigation system? Andrey Ionov thinks that the answer is quite simple:
“Satellite navigation today is a prerequisite, or a key success factor, which guarantees the effectiveness of high precision weapons. In other words, a country without a proprietary navigation satellite system, by default, does not possess high precision weapons. And only a country that does possess such a system should not fear that its high precision weapons could turn into pieces of metal and sticks. It is no doubt related to national security and defense.”
China is watching with growing concern the increase of the military and political influence of its main competitor in the region, the USA. And it takes steps in response. Obviously, the breakthrough in the area of global navigation system will increase its security. Without such a system China is unable to really compete with the USA.
It is no accident that this ambitious project by China is announced right before the beginning of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference session. At this session the formation of the new fifth generation of the Chinese leadership is to be completed. Xi Jinping and his team have already made it clear that they intend to increase China’s role as a global player. For that purpose, they need breakthroughs in the areas where China still lags behind it two main competitors – the USA and Russia.
Specifically, prior to the upcoming CPPCC session China announced launching into operation its new Qingdao military port built exclusively for the aircraft carriers. At present, China has only one aircraft carrier, but the new Chinese leadership has made its goal to build an aircraft carrier group quite clear.
The same is true regarding its goal to reach breakthroughs in space exploration. Recently, China announced its intent to make a technological breakthrough in the creation of a new generation solid-fuel carrier rocket. China’s fourth spaceport is being built specifically for its launch. No country in the world has such a high number of spaceports. The new port will be located on the Hainan Island, the country’s closest point to the Equator. This would allow to the country to greatly reduce the fuel usage when launching into orbit. It is planned that 12 launches per year will be done from that port. Primarily that concerns heavy satellites, space stations and spacecraft to explore deep space.
“I want to stress that for the Chinese space programs such speed has not been seen yet. They are usually a lot slower. Why such fast speed? How should one take the stated term of 2020? I believe that everything will be finished earlier; there are no obstacles to China realizing this program even prior to 2020. It will all primarily depend on the situation in the world.”
Today, all consumers in the world can use the signal of the Russia GLONASS and the US GPS. They guarantee complete reliability of the service. What is then the purpose of the Chinese global navigation system? Andrey Ionov thinks that the answer is quite simple:
“Satellite navigation today is a prerequisite, or a key success factor, which guarantees the effectiveness of high precision weapons. In other words, a country without a proprietary navigation satellite system, by default, does not possess high precision weapons. And only a country that does possess such a system should not fear that its high precision weapons could turn into pieces of metal and sticks. It is no doubt related to national security and defense.”
China is watching with growing concern the increase of the military and political influence of its main competitor in the region, the USA. And it takes steps in response. Obviously, the breakthrough in the area of global navigation system will increase its security. Without such a system China is unable to really compete with the USA.
It is no accident that this ambitious project by China is announced right before the beginning of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference session. At this session the formation of the new fifth generation of the Chinese leadership is to be completed. Xi Jinping and his team have already made it clear that they intend to increase China’s role as a global player. For that purpose, they need breakthroughs in the areas where China still lags behind it two main competitors – the USA and Russia.
Specifically, prior to the upcoming CPPCC session China announced launching into operation its new Qingdao military port built exclusively for the aircraft carriers. At present, China has only one aircraft carrier, but the new Chinese leadership has made its goal to build an aircraft carrier group quite clear.
The same is true regarding its goal to reach breakthroughs in space exploration. Recently, China announced its intent to make a technological breakthrough in the creation of a new generation solid-fuel carrier rocket. China’s fourth spaceport is being built specifically for its launch. No country in the world has such a high number of spaceports. The new port will be located on the Hainan Island, the country’s closest point to the Equator. This would allow to the country to greatly reduce the fuel usage when launching into orbit. It is planned that 12 launches per year will be done from that port. Primarily that concerns heavy satellites, space stations and spacecraft to explore deep space.
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