No mining in Antarctica research expansion bid
BEIJING: China plans to expand its scientific research in Antarctica in coming years amid worries over the area’s susceptibility to climate change, but has no immediate plans to mine or develop natural resources that could be exposed as the ice cap shrinks, government officials said.
China’s growing interest in the frozen continent is in the spotlight as it hosts a meeting of over 40 nations that oversee management of Antarctica under a 1959 treaty.
Human activity in Antarctica is governed by agreements designating it as a natural reserve.
Those protocols also prohibit military bases and the extraction of natural resources, although there has been speculation that China could one day seek to tap into Antarctica’s mineral reserves to support its economic expansion.
China signed the Antarctic treaty in 1983 and has since established four research stations. It plans to start construction of an airfield later this year and a fifth research station as early as 2018.
It also has a new icebreaker under construction to augment the Xue Long, a Ukrainian-built vessel used to service its Antarctic missions.
Lin Shanqing, deputy head of the State Oceanic Administration, told reporters on Monday that China wanted “to make our contribution to the peaceful use of the Antarctic as a responsible and big country”.
“At this stage, China’s Antarctic expeditions and research mainly focus on boosting our understanding of the Antarctic and to better conserve the Antarctic environment,” Lin said.
“According to my knowledge now, China has made no plans for mining activity in Antarctica.”
About 400 representatives from 42 countries and 10 international organisations are expected to attend the 40th Antarctic Treaty meeting, which goes through June 1.