China is planning a massive deep-sea station 6,561ft below the surface of highly contested waters in the South China Sea.
The research centre, described as a “deep-sea space station” in a report by the South China Morning Post, should be operational by around 2030 with room for six scientists, who will study ecosystems and tectonic activity for stints up to a month thanks to long-term life support systems.
The announcement comes after reports that Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defence detected 62 Chinese military aircraft near the island territory in the 48 hours leading to 10:00pm (GMT) on Tuesday, coinciding with a US ship’s transit.
Countries including Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei, and Taiwan – an island which rejects Beijing’s claims of sovereignty – claim parts of the South China Sea, which is rich in energy and mineral resources.
The station looks to solidify China’s position in the area, which possesses vast quantities of rare minerals and methane hydrate.
Reports claim the station will study cold seep ecosystems – hydrothermal vents full of unique lifeforms and methane hydrates, more commonly known as flammable ice, an energy resource with economic potential.
It’s hoped that scientists can track methane emissions to understand their impact on climate change, and explore underwater species, including those that could be used for potential medical advancements.
Geological activity will be tracked at the station to help predict natural disasters, and it is also expected to investigate methane hydrates as a possible alternative energy source.
Similar deep-sea research stations have relied on nuclear power to run the facility, but it remains unknown how this station will be powered.
Details were revealed this month by researcher Yin Jianping, from the Chinese Academy of Sciences’ South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, and his colleagues.