2024-02-18 23:47:02
Beijing: China inaugurated a new scientific research station in Antarctica last week. The debate has once again erupted over the purpose and impact of the rapid expansion of China’s presence on the Antarctic continent. Qianling Station, located on Inexpressible Island near the Ross Sea, is also China’s fifth scientific outpost and the third research station on the continent. This research station has been built in such a way that it can work in every season. According to China’s state broadcaster CGTN, the station covers 5244 square meters and can house 80 people during the summer months.
What kind of threat does the Chinese research station pose?
Quinling Station is near the US McMurdo Station and just south of Australia. A Center for Strategic and International Studies report published last April said its position could help China spy on signals from America’s allies Australia and New Zealand. This Chinese station can easily record telemetry data of rockets launched from the Joint Space Facility of Australia, New Zealand and America. China can use this data for its space missions.
China is running a spy base under the guise of a research station
Some analysts say the Qianling station is built for scientific purposes, but some of its capabilities “may naturally be dual-use.” Brian Hart, a fellow at the China Power Project at CSIS, told VOA. China could take advantage of some of those resources and capabilities for military or intelligence-gathering purposes.” He said China could build more research stations in the Antarctic because it considers the icy continent as part of its “strategic boundaries.” Sees as.
China wants to compete with America
Hart said, “Since this is an area that is outside the range of China, in such a situation, Beijing wants to show itself as cutting-edge. China’s attempt is to establish itself as a global leader, which can compete with America in any matter.” That’s why China is setting up a scientific research station in Antarctica. In response to concerns about Australia and New Zealand potentially spying through the Chinese station located in Antarctica, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said that this station has been created and operated “in full compliance with international rules and procedures”.