Five Thales satellites have entered space atop China's Long March launch vehicles since 1998. Three more Thales satellites will be launched from China during the next few years, according to China Great Wall Industry Corp.

China initially entered the commercial launch market in the 1990s, and once enjoyed a 9 percent share of the global business thanks to the reliability of its launch vehicles.

However, it experienced a major setback on Feb 15, 1996, when the launch of the Intelsat 708 satellite failed.

Starting in 1999, the United States banned the export of satellites to China containing components covered under the US International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR).

Due to this trade barrier, China was stripped of opportunities in the market and did not conduct any commercial launches between July 1999 and March 2005.

That year, China re-entered the market by launching satellites that were manufactured in Europe or China without ITAR-controlled components.

Between 2005 and 2009, China launched two China-made Dongfanghong-4 communications satellites for Nigeria and Venezuela, and launched four satellites manufactured by Thales for Chinese and foreign customers, according to the corporation.

Over the last three decades, China conducted 30 commercial launches for 14 countries and regions, putting a total of 36 satellites into orbit.

The Dongfanghong-4 satellite has been exported to developing countries in Asia, Africa and Latin America to provide communication services for 10 percent of the world's population.