Chinese research ships are studying the seas for science and resources, but the data they gather could also be useful in a conflict with Taiwan or the United States.The New York Times reports that China has recently increased its efforts in ocean exploration, with a focus on becoming a maritime power. This includes building a world-class navy, a large deep-sea fishing fleet, and an interest in extracting minerals from the seabed. Chinese leader Xi Jinping has pushed for China’s research abilities to match its ambitions.
While China’s research ships are gathering valuable information on marine life and climate change, their findings could also serve China’s naval interests. This includes understanding how to deploy submarines in the Pacific and tracking American submarines. As China’s research fleet grows, it could give them a significant advantage in maritime competition with the United States.
According to Bruce Jones, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution, China is rapidly catching up in terms of scale and is making a strategic play for the deep seabed. The research ships have been studying waters that are considered strategically important by China’s navy, such as off the coast of Taiwan and near Guam.
The article content cannot be retrieved at this time. Please enable JavaScript in your browser settings. Thank you for your patience while we verify access. If you are in Reader mode, please exit and log into your Times account, or subscribe for full access to The Times. Already a subscriber? Log in. Want full access to The Times? Subscribe.
Source:Read More