China has launched a satellite to support its global navigation and positioning network. 
The satellite, launched from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in southwest China's Sichuan Province, was taken into orbit by a Long March-3C carrier rocket. It is the 23rd satellite in the BeiDou Navigation Satellite System (BDS), which is being developed as an alternative to US GPS, state-run (Xinhua) news agency reported. 
It was the 229th launch of the Long March carrier rocket. 
The satellite, after entering its designed work orbit and finishing in-orbit testing, will join others already in orbit and improve the stability of the system, preparing for BDS to offer global coverage.