China has launched its tenth navigation satellite, named Beidou or Compass system, to reduce dependence on the US global positioning system (GPS).

The satellite was launched on a Long March-3A carrier rocket from the Xichang Satellite Launch Centre in south-west China’s Sichuan Province.

Currently, Beidou provides navigation services within China and its neighboring regions.

China began building its own satellite navigation system in 2000 to reduce its dependence on the US GPS.

The global satellite positioning and navigation system will be completed by 2020, with 30 satellites orbiting the Earth.