China starts talks with Chile to use Punta Arenas as jumping off point for Antarctic exploration
- China in negotiations with Chilean government to use port for ships headed to Antarctica
- Talks take place in first Chile-China Antarctic Joint Cooperation Committee meeting in Santiago
China is in talks with Chile over the use of a port in the South American country to transport personnel and materials destined for exploration programmes in Antarctica, the Chilean foreign ministry said on Tuesday.
The discussion took place during the first meeting of the Chile-China Antarctic Joint Cooperation Committee in Santiago, where Chilean authorities are considering whether to give Chinese exploration vessels access to the port of Punta Arenas.
The talks highlight China’s increasing interest in the Earth’s polar regions and come amid what analysts are calling a competition-of-sorts for the highest point in Antarctica.
China does not have any territorial claims to Antarctica, but has been boosting its presence there, and in 2013 President Xi Jinping said polar exploration was an important field to develop to address climate change.
Last year, China announced it would soon begin building its first permanent airfield in Antarctica – a 1,500 metre airstrip to be located on an ice cap in the continent’s east, 28km from the country’s Zhongshan Station in the Larsemann Hills by Prydz Bay.