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Coming into the Cold: China's interests in the Antarctic

journal contribution
posted on 2023-05-21, 13:08 authored by Anthony PressAnthony Press, Bergin, A
China took its first tentative steps into the Antarctic around 1980, travelling South with other nations' Antarctic programs. Australia hosted the first Chinese scientists to travel to East Antarctica to conduct research in the early 1980s. China signed the Antarctic Treaty in 1983 and became a Treaty Consultative Party in 1985. Since its first small forays, China's Antarctic activities have grown considerably: it now has two permanently occupied Antarctic stations, other Antarctic facilities and is currently building a station on in the Ross Sea region. China's Antarctic science program is broad; it has economic activities in the region include fisheries and tourism, and has expressed longer-term interest in resource extraction. In recent years, China has become an assertive participant in Antarctic governance. This paper analyses the geopolitical origins of the Antarctic Treaty, China's growing Antarctic presence, and the implications this has for the region, including the policies and strategies of Australia and key Indo-Pacific partner states in the Antarctic.

History

Publication title

Australian Journal of International Affairs

Volume

76

Pagination

340-358

ISSN

1035-7718

Department/School

Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies

Publisher

Routledge

Place of publication

Australia

Rights statement

© 2022 Australian Institute of International Affairs

Repository Status

  • Restricted

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