China Completes First Crewed Atlantic Deep-Sea Expedition
China has successfully completed its inaugural crewed deep-sea scientific expedition to the Atlantic Ocean, raising interest amid growing US concerns over its maritime intentions.

Record-Breaking Journey
After a 164-day journey spanning 57,000 km across the Atlantic and Indian Oceans, the Shenhai Yihao, the mother ship of China’s Jiaolong submersible, returned to Qingdao on Tuesday. During the mission, researchers conducted 46 dives, setting a new record for a single expedition. They gathered valuable environmental, biological, and geological data.

Significant Discoveries
Sun Yongfu, the expedition’s chief scientist, highlighted that this voyage marked the first use of Jiaolong in the Atlantic Ocean. The team explored the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, a key underwater mountain range, collecting data on hydrothermal biological activities. Researchers obtained samples of hydrothermal worms, shrimp, mussels, basalt, and sulphide.

Future Implications
This expedition enhances China’s deep-sea research capabilities and positions it for potential deep-sea mining. As China holds the most oceanic exploration sites among nations, it stands to benefit significantly from ocean floor minerals. The US, not a party to the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, could miss out on these opportunities.

Strategic Concerns
Experts warn that China’s deep-sea activities could improve its ocean intelligence, potentially aiding in submarine detection. The data collected could also inform environmental management of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge.

Technical Milestone
Sun emphasized that the mission verified China’s advanced deep-sea diving capabilities, promising significant contributions to future oceanic research.