A newly launched satellite will help China protect its maritime interests, the official China Daily newspaper reported on Thursday, as Manila and Tokyo urged Beijing to respect maritime law and security, and the rule of law, to resolve peacefully disputes in both the South China Sea and the East China Sea. The Gaofen 3 satellite that was launched on Wednesday has a radar system that captures images from space with a resolution down to one meter and can operate in all weathers, the China Daily said, citing information from State Administration of Science, Technology and Industry. “The satellite will play an important role in monitoring the marine environment, islands and reefs, and ships and oil rigs,” the paper said, quoting the project leader, Xu Fuxiang.

Torres, E., & Nawal, A. (2016, August 12). China: New satellite to protect its sea bases. Philippine Daily Inquirer, pp. A11, A12.