Prefecture in China’s Xinjiang to track cars by satellite
BEIJING — A prefecture in China’s far western Xinjiang region is requiring all vehicles to install a real-time GPS-like tracking system as part of an anti-terror initiative.
Lines of cars are pictured during a rush hour traffic jam on Guomao Bridge in Beijing. Reuters file photo
BEIJING — A prefecture in China’s far western Xinjiang region is requiring all vehicles to install a real-time GPS-like tracking system as part of an anti-terror initiative.
Traffic police in Bayingolin Mongol Autonomous Prefecture announced the regulation on Sunday (Feb 19), shortly after thousands of heavily armed police paraded in the Xinjiang capital and Communist Party officials vowed to ramp up their campaign against separatists and Islamic militants.
The vehicle-tracking programmme in Bayingolin will utilise China’s homegrown Beidou satellite system, launched in recent years to reduce China’s reliance on US-based GPS providers for sensitive applications. Authorities said they will also track cars using RFID technology embedded in license plates.
Xinjiang officials have sharply increased surveillance, street searches and police patrols in recent years amid attacks blamed on militants from the native Uighur minority. AP
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