Beijing sets up submarine monitoring system

Beijing sets up submarine monitoring system for the "science and security" of the Chinese Sea

A nearly $ 300 million project that will affect the waters of the South and East China Sea. For China it will favor "advanced scientific research" and will help experts in natural disaster prevention. For experts it is a control system that will cause additional alarms between the governments of the area. High tension between Beijing and Washington on the seas.

Beijing (AsiaNews / Agencies) - Chinese experts are studying the implementation of a "National Science and Security" submarine monitoring system, which will be deployed in the waters of the eastern and southern China Sea, which has long been the subject of longstanding territorial disputes. A high-tech complex systemthat will favor "advanced scientific research" and will help experts in the "natural disaster prevention" in the region.

The system will cost 2 billion yuan (about $ 290 million). It will provide real-time information about environmental conditions and sea bed activities, increasing the presence and activity of both Beijing and the military in Asia Pacific even more.

The project recently received approval and will take five years before it is fully operational. In the context of the work, a database will be set up in Shanghai to monitor and store the chemical, biological and geological information gathered from the systems under the seas.

Chinese sources say the project will not only contribute to scientific research and disaster prevention, but will also be essential in national security. Analysts and international policy experts say the Beijing decision is likely to create a further alert among the nations in the area, even at short notice for military and civil presence on controversial atolls.

The Chinese government claims most of the sea (almost 85 per cent), including sovereignty over the disputed Spratly and Paracel islands, in opposition to Vietnam, Taiwan, the Philippines, Brunei and Malaysia. The Philippines - which is seeking a non-binding international ruling at the UN court - together with Vietnam, is increasingly worried about Beijing's imperialism in the South China and East China seas.

For the United States, which backs the claims of Southeast Asia nations, Beijing's so-called 'cow tongue' line - which covers 80% of the 3.5 km2 - is both "illegal" and "irrational".

Meanwhile, the tension with Washington, which last week accused China of "dangerous interception" after a US warship had entered the controversial waters of the South China Sea. Beijing accused the US of territorial violations and of representing a danger to the seas of the region.

Washington and Beijing had seemed to temporarily cool tensions in an attempt to find a common solution to the North Korean threat. However, their conflicting ambitions soon re-emerged, confirming that in the long run, the lack of a shared and lasting solution could lead to a full-fledged conflict.

"Recently - stated Beijing - the US has been sent military vessels and aircraft to China's maritime and air space, infringing upon China's territorial sovereignty and posing a threat to the lives of people from both sides. Such operations [by the US] are the root of Sino-US military maritime and air safety incidents".