China has approved a deep-sea research facility that could redefine marine exploration while amplifying Beijing’s geopolitical control in one of the world’s most resource-rich areas.
The “cold seep” ecosystem research facility, according to reports, will be anchored 2000 meters (6560 feet) below the surface of the strategically significant South China Sea, which is a subject of territorial claims.
The facility—once completed—will be one of the most technologically advanced scientific underwater facilities.
Reports indicate that the facility is scheduled to be operational by around 2030, with room for six scientists on missions that will last as long as a month.
This planned facility, known as a deep-sea space station, will be used to study cold seep ecosystems—the methane-rich hydrothermal vents that teem with unique life forms and contain vast deposits of methane hydrates, called flammable ice.
Chief designer of the project Yin Jianping said, “Construction will soon begin.” The project allows China to have a four-dimensional surveillance grid under and over the water surface.
The underwater facility signalled China’s shift from being a follower to a leader, said a researcher, adding that this could become a “game changer and a turning point in the deep-sea race.”
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While China maintains that it selected a location based on convenience, experts point out that the planned location is not a mere case of accident; rather, the South China Sea holds 70 billion tonnes of methane hydrates—equivalent to half of China’s proven oil and gas reserves.
There are also rare mineral deposits, such as cobalt and nickel concentrations three times higher compared to land-based mines.
Interestingly, reports also suggest that South China hosts more than 600 species that can survive in extreme conditions, some with enzymes critical for cancer treatments.
Apart from its scientific prowess, the proposed construction site is also viewed as a Chinese tactic to strengthen its territorial claims.
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