China plans new science station in Antarctica
White paper promises more research and infrastructure on frozen continent, including fifth research facility
China has pledged to further expand its presence in Antarctica, including building its fifth research station on the largely uninhabited continent.
Officials in Beijing said the country was still lagging behind the US, Russia and Norway in exploring and studying the polar regions, which did not match China’s status as “a great country”. But they said China had no ambition to exploit the vast resources underneath the frozen continent.
“China is expected, on the basis of [advancing] scientific cognition of polar regions, to elevate its Antarctic activities,” read a white paper issued by the State Oceanic Administration (SOA) on Monday.
The paper comes at the same time as the 40th Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting in Beijing, the major international governance mechanism for the Antarctic. It is the first time the meeting has been held in China.
The white paper vowed to “elevate Antarctic infrastructure and comprehensive support capabilities” and enhance “scientific investigation and research capability”.
Since 1985, China has built four stations in Antarctica, two in the past decade, with the Kunlun station occupying the highest spot on the continent, Dome A.
The location of the fifth station had been chosen and a second ice-breaking vessel had been under construction since last October, said Lin Shanqing, deputy director of the SOA.
The US has five research stations in Antarctica and Russia has eight.
“The focuses of China’s Antarctic expeditions are protecting the environment and increasing our knowledge and understanding,” Lin said. “As far as I know, China had no plan for mining in the Antarctic,” he added.
Qin Weijia, the head of SOA’s polar expedition office, said China had not spent enough on its polar efforts in the past.
The white paper also expressed China’s willingness to enhance international polar cooperation. Norway, a leader in polar research, was named as a potential partner.
China is one of the few countries that does not have domestic legislation governing its activities in Antarctica, and some of its fishing practices in the region have caused environmental concerns.
Lin said that China’s national legislature had been studying the problem.
