https://www.reuters.com/world/china-ramps-up-construction-new-antarctic-station-report-2023-04-18/
China is constructing a station in the Antarctic southern polar region; they claim that it is only for peaceful purposes and scientific research, but the placement is extremely beneficial for China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA), as it would provide them with greater surveillance capabilities. The station is very strategically placed to be able to intercept intelligence signals from Australia and New Zealand. This would be China’s 5th station in the the Antarctica region. The pentagon has stated that this will likely be used to aid future claims on Antarctica natural resources or land.
China has been known to claim that a military or economic endeavor is simply a scientific research project– this is definitely one of those instances. Countries are banned from constructing military bases in Antarctica under the 1959 Antarctic Treaty, but China’s work around is claiming that it’s a research center. In recent years, many countries have been vying for greater presence in the northern Arctic circle, China included. It’s interesting to see their gains in Antarctica and how it compares to the Arctic. In both, China is utilizing icebreaker boats to traverse the icy terrain, which are horrible for ecosystems. Neither are governed by a country and are both meant for “global commons.” Their increased presence on each of the poles is yet another instance of China’s reach for global hegemony. In the last few years, China has focused on constructing military bases and stations such as this one in varying regions of the world.
This relates to what we’re doing in class because Treatys that deal with ‘global commons’ areas are International Law, and if China were to outright violate it and set up a huge PLA military base in Antartica, they would grossly be violating international law. China has found ways to violate it without outright violating it, however.