Satellite images show building work for first time since 2018 amid concern about Beijing’s growing polar presence
China is increasing its Antarctic footprint according to new satellite imagery collected by a Washington-based thinktank that shows construction has resumed for the first time since 2018 on the country’s fifth station in the southern polar region.and expand its research in Antarctica, but western governments worry its increasing presence in the polar regions could provide the People’s Liberation Army with better surveillance capabilities.
CSIS used satellite images taken in January to identify new support facilities, temporary buildings, a helicopter pad and foundations for a larger main building at the 5,000 sq meter station. It estimated that construction could be done by 2024. The station is well positioned to collect signals intelligence over Australia and New Zealand and telemetry data on rockets launched from Australia’s new Arnhem Space Centre, it said. Once finished, the station is expected to include a wharf for China’s Xuelong icebreaker ships.– including the biggest facility in its McMurdo station – China’s footprint is growing faster. China’s fifth station will be 200 miles from the McMurdo station, it said.
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