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By Ryan Chan
China News Reporter
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China has claimed a milestone in Arctic exploration as it conducted the first manned deep-sea dive in the ice-covered waters of the region, an emerging zone of global competition.
Newsweek has contacted the Chinese Foreign Ministry for further comment via email.
Why It Matters
China has claimed itself a "near-Arctic state" and an important stakeholder in regional affairs. It expanded its maritime presence in the Arctic—increasingly accessible because of climate change—by dispatching a fleet of five research vessels this summer.
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Facing China's growing activities in the Arctic and Russia's persistent military presence in the region, the United States released an Arctic strategy last year, calling for a greater military buildup and increased allied cooperation to counter Russia and China.
China's interest in the Arctic may stem from the region's energy resources, estimated to contain roughly 10 percent of the world's oil supplies and 25 percent of its natural gas.
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What To Know
China's 15th scientific expedition to the Arctic Ocean concluded on Friday, according to the country's Ministry of Natural Resources. The expedition was carried out by four vessels, including the icebreaker Xuelong 2, marking China's largest Arctic exploration.
This expedition enhanced China's understanding of changes in the Arctic Ocean and their impacts, providing important support for what the Ministry of Natural Resources called "a deeper understanding of and effective response to global climate change."
During their voyages in the Arctic, another Chinese vessel, the Shenhai 1, deployed a manned submersible known as the Jiaolong with support from the Xuelong 2, marking the continued advancement of Beijing's deep-sea access and exploration capabilities.
Studies showed major differences in bottom-dwelling organism density and biodiversity in the Arctic Ocean. The findings help reveal the spatial distribution patterns of polar deep-sea organisms and assess the impacts of climate change on these ecosystems.
The Xuelong 2 also conducted marine environmental surveys and supported manned deep-sea dives with the Jidi vessel. The team made significant progress in surveying the ice-edge zone and in coordinated observations of "atmosphere-ice-ocean system."
The system refers to interactions between Earth's atmosphere, sea ice and oceans. Rising temperatures have led to melting sea ice and increased areas of open water, causing dramatic changes in heat and vapor fluxes and in atmospheric chemistry.
What People Are Saying
China's Arctic Policy stated: "Global warming in recent years has accelerated the melting of ice and snow in the Arctic region. As economic globalization and regional integration further develops and deepens, the Arctic is gaining global significance for its rising strategic, economic values and those relating to scientific research, environmental protection, sea passages, and natural resources."
The U.S. Coast Guard said in a press release in August: "The U.S. Coast Guard's responses are intended to counter malign activities, defend sovereign interests, and promote maritime conduct consistent with international law and norms…The presence of [Chinese] vessels is consistent with a three-year trend of increased activity from Chinese research vessels operating in the U.S. Arctic."
What Happens Next
It remains to be seen whether China will deploy research vessels to the Arctic again before the end of the year, where the U.S. Coast Guard is closely monitoring foreign activity.
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