Business of Space

Iran War Opens Opportunity for China to Flex Its GPS Alternative

Experts say Beidou, the Chinese satellite network, is now a key tool for Iran.

A member of the People’s Liberation Army Color Guard stands guard in Tiananmen Square in Beijing on March 12.Photographer: Qilai Shen/Bloomberg

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By Bruce Einhorn

May 13, 2026 at 2:09 PM UTC

This article is for subscribers only.

Hello again, it’s Bruce Einhorn in Princeton, New Jersey. President Donald Trump’s trip to Beijing has brought China’s GPS alternative into view as potentially a big winner in the Iran war. But first...

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