New Delhi: China has unveiled initial details of an ambitious initiative aimed at establishing a deep-sea research facility that could revolutionize marine exploration. This facility is projected to be located approximately 6,000 feet beneath the surface of the South China Sea and is anticipated to be completed by 2030. It will have the capacity to house up to six scientists, who will reside in this ‘deep-sea space station’ for durations of up to one month.
According to a report by the South China Morning Post, the primary objective of this facility will be to investigate ‘cold seep’ ecosystems in the region. These distinctive environments are known for their rich biodiversity and significant deposits of methane hydrates, which are recognized for their potential as an energy resource.
Researchers from the South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, part of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, provided insights into the project during discussions with reporters from the South China Morning Post. They highlighted that the facility will feature a sophisticated life support system, allowing scientists to conduct month-long missions at such depths. Additionally, it will maintain a permanent monitoring network to track methane levels, ecological shifts, and tectonic movements, while also collaborating with a range of uncrewed submersibles, vessels, and seabed observatories to create a comprehensive ‘four-dimensional’ monitoring framework.
The endeavor to build this deep-sea facility, situated around 6,650 feet below the ocean’s surface, is not without its controversies, particularly due to the longstanding territorial disputes that affect extensive areas of the South China Sea.
The project announcement comes in the wake of reports indicating that Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defence identified 62 Chinese military aircraft in proximity to the island last week. Taiwan is among several nations in Southeast Asia, including Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia, and Brunei, that contest Beijing’s claims of sovereignty and assert their own territorial rights in parts of the South China Sea.
This region is highly coveted for its abundant resources. Notably, the underwater area is believed to contain substantial reserves of methane hydrates, estimated at approximately 70 billion tonnes, as reported by the South China Morning Post, which is nearly equivalent to half of China’s existing oil and gas reserves.
Methane hydrates are characterized as ice-like structures composed of methane and water, and they are considered to have considerable potential as an unexploited energy source. Additionally, the region is thought to harbor extensive deposits of valuable minerals, such as cobalt and nickel.
Establishing a deep-sea research facility in this area would undoubtedly reinforce China’s influence in the South China Sea. Researcher Yin Jianping from the Chinese Academy of Sciences’ South China Sea Institute of Oceanology disclosed the details of these plans to the South China Morning Post.
This announcement follows two years after initial information regarding a US-led initiative aimed at constructing an “underwater space station of the ocean” near the Caribbean island of Curacao. This facility is intended to function as an “underwater habitat” where scientists, innovators, private citizens, and public sector representatives can reside underwater for extended periods to conduct research on the ocean environment.
The project is currently being developed by NOAA and the Proteus Ocean Group, an organization founded by Fabien Cousteau, which aims to establish an international network of subsea habitats—a global ‘smart ocean’ platform—to enhance collaboration in marine scientific research.
