This photo taken on Dec. 2, 2024 shows a view of icebergs near China's Zhongshan Station in Antarctica. (Photo: Xinhua)
New Zealand media hyped that China plans to "construct its second base on the New Zealand side of Antarctica." A Chinese expert highlighted China's stance of being open to cooperation in advancing exploration and at the same time warned against voices politicizing scientific research.
China has now submitted a draft environmental evaluation to the Secretariat of the Antarctic Treaty for the construction and operation of a new summer research station at Marie Byrd Land, the New Zealand Herald reported on Friday.
The submission was confirmed by New Zealand's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, according to the report.
According to the draft environmental evaluation dated February, Marie Byrd Land is located in West Antarctica, nestled between the Ross Sea and the Amundsen Sea, to the south of the Getz Ice Shelf.
The proposed new summer station is positioned as one of the key international platforms supporting multi-factor observation and research of the atmosphere, glaciers and ice shelves, and oceans in West Antarctica under the backdrop of global climate change, the elevation report says.
It aims to provide more effective long-term scientific data support for studies on the stability of the West Antarctic ice sheet and its key influencing factors, according to the report.
The New Zealand Herald said in its Friday report that it acknowledged the Antarctic Treaty system allows countries to establish research facilities in Antarctica, but in recent years there has been growing concern that these facilities could have "dual use," the report said, citing a US Defence Department report from 2022.
Chen Hong, director of the Australian Studies Center of East China Normal University, told the Global Times that the US is attempting to politicize Antarctic scientific research, using non-existent "political motives" and "military motives" to smear China's legitimate activities.
Regarding Antarctic research, China's stance has always been clear: it is willing to cooperate with international partners to advance the exploration, utilization, and protection of Antarctica. In contrast, the US has long viewed Antarctica as a strategic base and seeks to conduct research there that can be directly applied to military purposes, Chen said.
China collaborates with many parties to the Antarctic Treaty, including Australia, Argentina, and Chile. New Zealand, as one of the gateways to Antarctica, engages in international cooperation with China under the Antarctic Treaty system, Chen said. He added that China has never linked its scientific activities in Antarctica to politics, as evidenced by the Qinling Station, which is solely dedicated to scientific research.
Previously, Chinese ambassador to Australia Xiao Qian told Australian media ABC that China wanted to contribute to global efforts to address climate change. "We are open, we are transparent, we are ready to cooperate with Australia and many other partners of the Antarctic Treaty to make further efforts in that direction," he said.
Cooperation surrounding Antarctica was one of the topics that was discussed when Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of New Zealand Winston Peters visited Beijing in February.
At present, China has established five research stations in the Antarctic, namely the Great Wall Station, Zhongshan Station, Kunlun Station, Taishan Station and Qinling Station.
China is conducting its 41st Antarctic expedition, which set sail from the southern Chinese port city of Guangzhou on November 1, 2024. The mission is set to last nearly seven months, with a return scheduled for May 2025.
