China is constructing the world’s first permanent undersea research station to study gas hydrates, a potential energy source that could exceed the Persian Gulf’s oil reserves.
The deep-sea habitat will be built in methane-rich “cold seep” zones, where six researchers will live for month-long missions to analyze these crystalline formations of methane trapped in ice. Beijing officially confirmed the project on March 1, 2025.
With an estimated 80 billion tonnes of oil-equivalent energy—significantly exceeding the Gulf’s 50 billion-tonne proven oil reserves—these massive hydrate deposits have the potential to reshape global energy dynamics.
This deep-sea station, set to begin operation by 2030, represents China’s most ambitious bid to map this frontier.
Strategic Expansion in the South China Sea
From a military standpoint, this project extends beyond research; it’s a strategic maneuver in a contested region.
The South China Sea is a military hotspot. China’s nine-dash line, first drawn in 1947, overlaps with the territorial claims of Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia, and Brunei. Vietnam claims the Paracel and Spratly Islands and has clashed with China in 1974 and 1988.
The Philippines contests China’s claims, particularly around the Scarborough Shoal and parts of the Spratly Islands.
In 2016, the Permanent Court of Arbitration ruled that China’s nine-dash line had no legal basis, a decision Beijing rejected. Despite the ruling, Chinese vessels continue to exert pressure in these areas.
The U.S. also plays a major role in this region. It does not claim anything but sends warships through the South China Sea, calling it “freedom of navigation” to counter China’s claims.
For China, the South China Sea represents a vital strategic and economic lifeline. The shipping lanes within this region carry approximately US$3.4 trillion worth of goods annually, including critical resources like oil and natural gas. Controlling these waters gives China significant leverage over global trade and strengthens its geopolitical influence.
Energy Security & Military Strength
Energy keeps a military running. China, the world’s biggest energy consumer, depends on coal for most of its power and oil shipped from the Middle East to fuel its forces.
Coal dominates at home, but imported oil keeps ships, planes, and bases operational. This reliance leaves China exposed, requiring secure supplies to maintain military readiness.
The deep-sea research station in the South China Sea targets gas hydrates—methane locked in ice under the ocean floor.
Methane burns cleaner than coal, producing about half the carbon dioxide emissions, and could gradually reduce China’s reliance on imported oil. This is particularly crucial for its navy, which depends on a steady fuel supply to operate.
Currently, up to 85% of China’s oil imports pass through the Strait of Malacca—a narrow and vulnerable chokepoint between Malaysia and Indonesia that adversaries like the U.S. could potentially block in a conflict. Securing a domestic methane supply from the South China Sea could ease this strategic vulnerability.
If China succeeds, its navy could shift focus from protecting distant oil supply routes to asserting control over these contested waters. In the past, the Persian Gulf oil fueled the rise of global powers like the US. Methane could do the same for China, giving it energy from its backyard.
But extraction is not easy—getting methane out of the seabed takes time and precision. China’s proposed station is one way to make it happen.
Professor Wang Shuhong, a marine geologist at the Chinese Academy of Sciences, put it plainly: “It’s about guarding the oceans. We hope it will be built soon.” From a military angle, this means securing resources to maintain national security.
Technology & Tactical Edge
Equipped with advanced submersibles like the Jiaolong and Haima, research teams will track methane emissions, evaluate extraction techniques, and catalog unique marine life, including glowing fish and crustaceans encased in mineral-rich “cold-seep ivory.”
Often referred to as “ice on fire,” gas hydrates can store Methane 160 times their volume when in a frozen state. Wang estimates that global reserves contain twice the energy potential of all known fossil fuel deposits combined.
However, these hydrates are highly sensitive to temperature and pressure changes. Extracting them has been compared to handling an explosive device, as improper methods could lead to ocean acidification or undersea landslides.
With the establishment of the deep-sea research station, scientists will significantly extend their observation periods—from the current 15-hour limit to an unprecedented 45 days, Wang noted. Seabed knowledge is power. The station will map cold seeps and methane deposits, detailing the South China Sea’s floor. That helps hide defenses, set traps, or spot threats.
Geopolitical Leverage & Risks
The deep seabed is not just a scientific frontier—it is a strategic asset. With over 300 methane-rich cold seeps, the South China Sea holds vast energy reserves and mineral deposits crucial for military applications, including missile, drone, and naval technology.
By establishing a deep-sea research station, China gains a direct advantage in mapping and studying these resources, reinforcing its territorial claims.
If China successfully taps into these 80 billion tonnes of gas hydrate reserves, it could significantly reduce its dependence on Middle Eastern oil.
This would shift energy geopolitics, much like the Persian Gulf’s oil wealth once shaped global power dynamics. Instead of relying on distant supply routes, China’s navy could focus on securing nearby waters, strengthening its regional influence.
However, the risks are substantial. Extracting methane hydrates is highly complex, and accidental releases could have severe consequences.
Methane is 25 times more potent than carbon dioxide as a greenhouse gas, meaning uncontrolled leaks could accelerate global warming, trigger undersea landslides, or even disrupt naval operations.
While methane flows are closely monitored, any miscalculation could backfire, weakening China’s position and providing an opportunity for U.S. naval forces to reassert their presence.
Unlike the Persian Gulf’s oil boom, methane extraction remains technically challenging, and geopolitical disputes could slow progress.
If China succeeds, it will gain a major advantage in securing energy, advancing its technology, and expanding its control over the South China Sea. However, for now, this move is a high-stakes competition closely watched by global military powers.
- By: ET News Desk
- Mail us at: editor (at) eurasiantimes.com
