Qinling Station Explained

Qinling Station
Native Name:中国南极秦岭站
Native Name Lang:zh
Settlement Type:Antarctic base
Coordinates:-74.9343°N 163.7153°W
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Name:
Subdivision Type1:Operator
Subdivision Name1:PRIC
Established Title:Established
Extinct Title:Evacuated
Unit Pref:Metric
Population Blank1 Title:Summer
Population Blank1:80
Population Blank2 Title:Winter
Population Blank2:30
Code1 Name:UN/LOCODE
Blank Name Sec1:Active times
Blank Info Sec1:All year-round
Blank1 Name Sec1:Status
Blank1 Info Sec1:Operational

Qinling Station is an Antarctic research station operated by the Polar Research Institute of China. It is situated on the southern edge of Inexpressible Island in Terra Nova Bay, Scott Coast, Victoria Land, on the Ross Sea coast of East Antarctica.

Design

The station has an area of 5244m2, and is in the shape of the Southern Cross, honouring Zheng He, an admiral and diplomat during the Ming Dynasty.[1]

History

The station first broke ground in 2018, but construction was delayed because of the COVID-19 pandemic.[2] On 7 February 2024, Qinling Station was officially opened by the People's Republic of China.[3] [4] [5] The Center for Strategic and International Studies, an American think tank, reported that the station was expected to include an observatory with a satellite ground station, and that the equipment could be used to collect signals intelligence and for tracking rockets launched from the Arnhem Space Centre in Australia. China rejected claims that the station would be used for espionage.[6] [7]

Notes and References

  1. News: Zhao. Lei. Fifth Antarctic station opens. China Daily Hong Kong. 9 February 2024. 18 February 2024.
  2. News: China’s fifth scientific outpost in the Antarctic —Qinling Station – starts operations amid climate change, rising sea levels . South China Morning Post. 15 February 2024. 18 February 2024.
  3. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-02-08/china-opens-antarctic-station-south-of-australia-new-zealand/103441576 China opens first Antarctic research station due south of Australia and New Zealand
  4. https://english.news.cn/20240207/94743dd55a4c4970bc2c7be93eb5a31e/c.html China's Qinling Station in Antarctica starts operation
  5. Zhao Lei, China opens fifth Antarctic research station China Daily via Asia News Network, 8 February 2024. Retrieved 8 February 2024.
  6. Web site: United States Antarctic Inspection February 2020 . U.S. Department of State. 8 February 2024.
  7. News: Surveillance fears as China resumes construction on fifth Antarctic base . . 18 April 2023 . London.