This paper explores BeiDou’s role in great power competition short of war. Section II explains how a GNSS works, focusing on GPS, and discusses its benefits and vulnerabilities. Section III reviews BeiDou’s origin and comparative features for civilian use. Section IV explores how the Chinese government is using BeiDou to advance its geopolitical aims abroad. Section V offers a conclusion and recommendations for U.S. policymakers.

The U.S. Federal Reserve, Treasury Department, and Congress have begun considering the viability of a Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC), a legal tender national digital currency for consumer use. The national security implications of CBDCs are not yet central considerations for U.S. policymakers, but they should be.