On October 23, 2010, World Journal, a Taiwan based Chinese newspaper, reported that China is making a full out effort across China to provide a government-backed map service called “Map World” in order to compete with Google Earth.
The Chinese mapping data was considered the confidential information of the military. "Map World" has a strong background. According to the State Bureau of Surveying and Mapping, the project is backed and supported by the Ministry of Land Resources, the Ministry of Public Security, the Ministry of State Security, the State Secrets Bureau, the PLA Secrets Office, the PLA’s General Staff Department, the Armed Police Headquarters, the Surveying and Mapping Bureau under the PLA’s General Staff Department, and other security and intelligence agencies.
Source: World Journal, October 23, 2010
http://www.worldjournal.com/view/full_hnews/10013300/article-%E4%B8%AD%E5%9C%8B%E6%8E%A8%E5%A4%A9%E5%9C%B0%E5%9C%96-%E5%90%91%E8%B0%B7%E6%AD%8C%E5%9C%B0%E7%90%83%E5%AE%A3%E6%88%B0?instance=noon