Mainland China began operating a homegrown 10-satellite navigation system Tuesday in a bid to diminish Beijing’s reliance on the American gps. According to defense experts, the Beidou Navigational Satellite System could help the Chinese military identify, track and strike U.S. ships in the event of a future conflict.

Chinese Satellite Navigation Office Director Ran Chengqi has said the new Beidou system will increase the tracking ability of the People’s Liberation Army by 100 to 1,000 times. Such tracking ability, when combined with recent advances in Chinese missile technology, could allow Beijing to deny or hinder U.S. naval access to the waters around its shores. This development could be a game changer if Washington ever tries to intervene in a conflict over Taiwan.

Arthur Ding, a professor of international relations at National Chengchi University, stated that China’s homegrown satellite system does represent a long-term threat to Taiwan and advises that the Taipei government should develop counterattack technology that can disrupt the Beidou system.

Despite such warnings, however, there really is nothing Taiwan can do on its own to defend itself from mainland advances. And since the United States has not really been sticking up for it lately, it is likely the Taipei government will continue its current policy of appeasement toward Beijing.

Beijing, which has threatened Taiwan with invasion if the self-ruled island ever declares de jure independence, is zealously taking advantage of the pro-Chinese policies of current Taiwanese President Ma Ying-jeou in an attempt to draw the island as close as possible to the mainland. Overt military moves by China such as cross-Strait missile buildups and military satellite installations serve to remind Taiwan of the consequences it will suffer if it turns away from its current pro-China stance.

In this light, the current tensions between Taiwan and China are just another step along the path to a coming annexation of Taiwan by Communist China.

For more information, read “Taiwan’s New Direction” and “Taiwan Betrayal.”