Last Sunday marked World Oceans Day – a global event dedicated to encouraging the protection of marine ecosystems and the responsible use of ocean resources. On the very same day, China announced the opening of its first deep-sea testing facility, situated approximately 200 kilometres off the coast of Hainan, in the contested waters of the South China Sea.
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Depending on perspective, this development is either a significant step in marine innovation or a troubling sign of growing industrial interest in vulnerable ocean regions. The seabed is known to contain rich deposits of metals essential to clean energy technologies – including cobalt, nickel, manganese and copper – materials increasingly sought after for electric vehicle batteries and green infrastructure.
Supporters of deep-sea mining argue that these undersea resources are crucial for a sustainable future. “We simply can’t meet demand for these metals on land without causing further environmental damage,” said Hans Smit, CEO of Oceans Minerals, a deep-sea mining company operating in the Pacific, in a 2021 interview with The Guardian. “Harvesting them from the ocean may be the only viable alternative.”
Yet many scientists remain wary. They warn that disturbing the sea floor could have serious ecological consequences in an already fragile environment. “These nodules are more than just mineral lumps – they provide the structure that supports deep-sea ecosystems,” said oceanographer Beth Orcutt to Reuters in 2023. “Removing them risks dismantling entire biological communities.”
China’s new site, however, is not strictly focused on mineral extraction. Rather, officials have framed it as a multipurpose platform for scientific exploration, engineering trials, and industrial development. Located at depths ranging from 1,300 to 1,500 metres, the base will be used to test equipment in extreme deep-sea conditions – cold, dark and high-pressure – as part of broader efforts in marine innovation.
Cui Xiaojian, deputy director of the Hainan Provincial Oceanic Administration, stated that the project will aid in verifying underwater technology, fostering industrial partnerships and providing certification capabilities for oceanic research tools.
The opening of this new station adds to a growing network of deep-sea test sites along China’s maritime frontier, reinforcing the country’s ambition to become a “maritime great power” – a phrase often repeated by President Xi Jinping in reference to China’s strategic development goals.
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“The expansion of marine testing infrastructure will allow domestic enterprises to take the lead in deep-sea exploration and related industries,” said Cui. “This will, in turn, strengthen the marine economy.”
While the move signals growing capabilities in undersea technology, it also highlights the ongoing global tension between economic ambition and environmental stewardship. As the race for ocean resources intensifies, so too does the debate over how – and whether – they should be used.
