China increases its presence in the South China Sea. The country plans to construct an underwater observation system for South China Sea tourism, research, and military advantage.
According to Chinese media reports, the underwater observation system is to give real-time information on the condition of sea beds. The physical and chemical qualities of the sea will be studied by the system, the Global Times says.
This project will help China in exploring the sea for valuable resources including oil and gas.
Annually, $5 trillion worth of trade passes through the South China Sea, which China claims most of its territorial rights.
The Philippines, Taiwan, Vietnam, Brunei, and Malaysia are among the countries competing for territories in the South China Sea. According to some observers, the observation equipment reinforces China’s claims to the area.
Satellite images suggest that China has added military weapons to some of the islands.
The observation system will be built by the Chinese Academy of Sciences’ Institute of Acoustics and Shanghai’s Tongji University. The undersea project would also cover areas in the East China Sea where Japan claims a group of islands.
Experts believe that an underwater platform with a series of wires linked back to China will be added to the system. The platform could be used for gathering information on undersea minerals and oil and for military purposes.
“I think the military element is part of it, but the civilian part of it is not negligible for this project. At the minimum, if this system is deployed, it will help China better collect information on both (seas),” said Yun Sun of the Stimson Center.
On Thursday, a new Chinese passenger ship left Sanya, in the Southern Province of Hainan, according to the report of Xinhua News Agency. The ship is bound to the disputed Paracel Islands in the South China Sea.
308 passengers are aboard the ship. Three islands in Parcel would be visited by tourists in their four-day trip.
South China Morning Post reports officials’ plan to open tourist flights to the Parcel Islands. Currently, the officials are currently asking the approval of government ministries and the military for the flights.
The project may post issues on the acceptability of South China Sea tourism to China's neighboring countries.