China Plans to Build Underwater Seabase 6500′ Under the South China Sea

China Confirms Construction of Deep-Sea Base 6,500 Feet Underwater in South China Sea

Beijing, May 6, 2025 — In a bold display of technological ambition and geopolitical assertion, China has confirmed the construction of a deep-sea research and surveillance base 6,500 feet beneath the surface of the South China Sea, sparking international attention and raising strategic concerns among neighboring nations and global powers.

The project, referred to by Chinese state media as the “Deep Sea Station Alpha,” is described as the world’s first permanent manned facility capable of operating at such extreme depths. Situated in a disputed maritime zone rich in natural resources and marked by overlapping territorial claims, the facility reportedly serves dual purposes: marine science research and deep-sea monitoring.

According to officials from China’s Ministry of Natural Resources, the base will be powered by a combination of subsea cabling and nuclear energy modules. It is designed to house up to 12 researchers for extended missions lasting several months, with advanced robotic arms, AI-assisted marine biology labs, and sonar surveillance equipment embedded into the surrounding seabed.

“This project represents a historic breakthrough in manned deep-ocean exploration,” said project lead Dr. Wei Lian of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. “We are pushing the limits of human engineering while contributing valuable research into undersea ecosystems, tectonic activity, and mineral resource mapping.”

However, defense analysts and foreign policy experts say the timing and location of the project cannot be ignored.

“Let’s be clear: this is not just about science,” said Rear Admiral James Rowe (Ret.), a former U.S. Pacific Command strategist. “A permanent base at that depth gives China the ability to surveil maritime traffic, monitor submarine routes, and possibly lay the groundwork for undersea communication interception or defense systems. It’s a strategic chess move.”

The South China Sea is one of the most contested waterways in the world, with nations including Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia, and Brunei asserting claims that clash with China’s sweeping “nine-dash line” boundary. In recent years, China has built military outposts on artificial islands, drawing criticism from the United States and its allies, who accuse Beijing of militarizing the region.

The newly announced deep-sea base adds a novel layer to the ongoing disputes. While the facility is located beyond territorial baselines, it falls within the broader disputed zone. Officials in Manila and Hanoi have already issued cautious statements urging transparency and adherence to international maritime law.

U.S. State Department spokesperson Laura Mitchell told reporters, “We are monitoring the situation closely. Any activity that could further destabilize the South China Sea and threaten freedom of navigation must be addressed through international norms and open dialogue.”

China has not revealed the exact coordinates of the base but has emphasized that the station will operate within what it calls its “sovereign waters.” Satellite imagery experts have detected increased vessel activity and undersea cable deployment in the vicinity of the Macclesfield Bank, a largely submerged atoll claimed by multiple countries but controlled by none.

As construction progresses, questions remain about the long-term environmental impact of human presence at such depths, as well as the implications of turning the deep ocean—once seen as beyond reach—into the next frontier of strategic competition.

Read more – https://www.popularmechanics.com/science/energy/a64040938/china-deep-sea-space-station/