The next day, A big shot from the Iranian Space Research Institute publicly shouted to China that he would replace all U.S. GPS with China's Beidou navigation system.

This is not a simple technological upgrade, and behind it is a geopolitical calculus.

Think of it, The navigation system is the modern military ¡®eye¡¯!What is Iran¡¯s role and what is China¡¯s role?

How accurate are the US military's missiles? Just ask Iran.

Iran has suffered little in recent years.

U.S. forces have used GPS to accurately locate and repeatedly target important people and facilities in Iran.

These strikes have not only caused substantial damage, but also deeply damaged Iran¡¯s self-esteem.

For Iran, this is not only a technical issue, but also a deadline for national security.

October 4 Wahid Azdanyan, director of the Iranian Institute of Space Research, finally failed to press, publicly expressed his desire to replace the U.S. GPS with the Chinese Beidou system.

This request is by no means a whim, but based on Iran's years of security concerns and strategic considerations.

Iran's concerns are not groundless.

The GPS system is controlled by the U.S. military. Theoretically, the United States can interfere with or even shut down GPS signals in specific areas at any time.

Amid tensions, Iran is obviously reluctant to give its "eyes" to potential enemies.

It is time for Iran¡¯s request.

The current situation in the Middle East is extremely tense.

The conflict between Israel and Hamas continues, and peace talks are interrupted and unlikely to produce results.

Trump recently launched the so-called ¡°20-point peace plan¡± to try to work on the Middle East issue, but the plan has not been multinational recognition.

Iran is worried, Israel has repeatedly hinted that it could shift targets toward Iranian nuclear facilities.

In this context, Iran has a more urgent need for its own technical security.

Iran supports groups such as Hamas and Hezbollah, a position that makes its position in the Middle East conflict more sensitive.

Losing a reliable navigation system is almost like a blind eye for Iran.

After years of development, China's Beidou system has become one of the four major satellite navigation systems in the world, keeping pace with GPS in the United States, GLONASS in Russia and Galileo in the European Union.

By 2020, the Beidou system will complete the global network, and its coverage will be worldwide.

China has been actively promoting the international application of Beidou system, especially in countries along the "the belt and road initiative".

For China, Iran¡¯s demand is both an opportunity and a challenge.

This is an excellent opportunity for Beidou to demonstrate its global influence and may also enhance China's technological influence in the Middle East.

In fact, Iran has had numerous contacts and cooperation with China in the space and technology fields.

This request is based on years of cooperation between the two countries.

The U.S. has shown great caution about the global expansion of Chinese technology.

If China accepts Iran's request, the United States is likely to strengthen restrictions on China's technology exports.

The Trump administration has already imposed severe sanctions on Chinese technology companies such as Huawei.

If the Beidou system enters sensitive areas in the Middle East, it could become a new focus of U.S.-China technological confrontation.

The United States will not easily give up its influence in the Middle East.

As a strategic asset of the United States, the GPS system has always been an important tool for its global military and political influence.

For China, Iran¡¯s request brings a strategic choice: to expand the international influence of the Beidou system or to avoid being involved in a complex conflict in the Middle East.

Accepting the request may mean China will become more involved in Middle East affairs, which is contrary to China's consistent diplomatic stance.

China has always insisted on not interfering in the internal affairs of others and avoiding involvement in regional conflicts.

On the other hand, refusing the request could affect the relationship of trust with Iran and could even be seen as a compromise under U.S. pressure.

Technical cooperation seems simple, and actually involves regional balance of forces.

Beidou¡¯s entry into Iran could trigger more countries in the Middle East to re-evaluate their technological dependencies and form a chain reaction.

Iran¡¯s action to replace GPS actually reflects a wider ¡°de-Americanization¡± trend.

More and more countries are seeking to reduce their reliance on American technology and strengthen their technological independence.

This trend has manifested itself in many ways around the world, From Huawei¡¯s Hangouts system to Russia¡¯s ¡°Sovereign Internet¡± program, and now Iran is seeking a replacement for GPS.

These efforts together pose a challenge to U.S. technological hegemony.

Navigation systems are becoming the new frontline of competition between the great powers.

Whoever grasps this critical infrastructure grasps the commanding heights of the digital age.

Iran¡¯s demands may just begin.

If China accepts and succeeds, more countries may follow and further change the global technology pattern.

From this point of view, it is not that simple for Iran to replace GPS with Beidou.

On the surface, it is technical cooperation, and in the bone is a game of great powers.

This time, China faces two difficult choices: help Iran, the United States will not be happy; do not help, and it may lose a great opportunity to expand its influence in the Middle East.

In the final analysis, this navigation system dispute is actually a microcosm of the transformation of the international order.

Now more and more countries around the world are starting to think: What Does Technology Dependence Really Mean? How to balance security and development? These problems are far more complicated than the choice of a positioning system.

Based on my years of tracking the situation in the Middle East and international relations, this event may only be the beginning of a bigger change.

Source of information:

¡¤ Official announcement of the Iranian Institute of Space Research referring to the statement of Director Wahid Yazdanian

¡¤The official website of China Beidou satellite navigation system and its progress report

U.S. Department of Defense Space Command Strategy White Paper on GPS Systems

Space Technology Cooperation Framework in Iran-China Strategic Cooperation Agreement

¡¤ Assessment of regional security threats by the Office of the IDF Spokesperson

The full version of the ¡°20 Points Peace Plan¡± proposed by the Trump Administration

Special Statement of the United Nations Security Council on the situation in the Middle East and technical security issues