Largest Chinese Antarctic fleet sets off to put up research facility

• The largest Chinese Antarctic fleet sets off to put up a research facility.
• Their primary mission is to support the construction of China’s fifth research station.
• The icebreakers will conduct environmental surveys in various Antarctic regions.

A significant expedition comprising two Chinese icebreaker research vessels and a cargo ship embarked on a journey to the Antarctic with over 460 personnel on board.

Their primary mission is to support the construction of China’s fifth research station on the southernmost continent.

This deployment represents China’s largest fleet of research vessels to the Antarctic and is concentrated on the development of the station on Inexpressible Island, situated near the Ross Sea.

The station construction is a substantial endeavor, and the new facility will enhance China’s research capabilities in the region.

Construction work on the first Chinese station in the Pacific sector commenced in 2018 and will facilitate research into the Antarctic environment.

China currently operates four research stations in the Antarctic, established between 1985 and 2014. A U.S.-based think tank estimates that the fifth station may be completed by the following year.

The new facility is anticipated to include an observatory with a satellite ground station, further enhancing China’s access to the continent.

The station’s location also offers strategic advantages for signal collection and telemetry data, but China has consistently denied any suggestions of espionage or military use for its research stations.

The two icebreakers, named Xuelong 1 and Xuelong 2, set sail from Shanghai, primarily carrying personnel and logistical supplies.

The cargo ship, “Tianhui” or “Divine Blessings,” departed from the eastern port of Zhangjiagang, loaded with construction materials for the station.

The mission, spanning five months, will involve conducting surveys to assess the impact of climate change in the region.

Additionally, the icebreakers will conduct environmental surveys in various Antarctic regions, such as Prydz Bay, the Astronaut Sea, the Ross Sea, and the Amundsen Sea.

China’s 40th Antarctic expedition will also involve collaboration with other nations, including the United States, Britain, and Russia, in terms of logistics supply and shared research efforts.

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