China has installed ground stations for its BeiDou satellite system in the disputed South China Sea Island in order to monitor ships and support reliable navigational guidance. These round station also known as lighthouses are located on North Reef and Bombay Reef in the Paracel Islands- an area claimed by both Vietnam and Taiwan. The ground stations started operation to solve the problem of a blind spot in the country’s shore-based ship AIS in the waters around the Paracels.