China to build first permanent airfield in Antarctica

“The airfield would be for more than just scientific research. It would also mean China could have a say in the international management of Antarctic airspace”

China’s first permanent Antarctic airfield, revealed on August 9, 2025, features a Xue Ying 601 snow-capable aircraft and is located on 150m-thick ice, 28m above sea level, potentially enhancing China’s influence over polar airspace management amid the 1959 Antarctic Treaty’s peaceful-use mandate.

The airfield’s strategic placement near Zhongshan and Taishan stations, as noted in the post, is in keeping with a 2023 RAND study suggesting China’s aim to gain a “right to speak” in Antarctic affairs, driven by economic interests like krill fishing, despite the Treaty’s ban on territorial claims and limits on military activity due to Antarctica’s harsh climate.

Historical context from the Chinese National Antarctic Research Expedition (CHINARE), active since 1984 with 33 cruises by 2017, indicates a long-term scientific presence, but the airfield’s dual-use potential raises questions about compliance with the Antarctic Treaty System, especially as peer-reviewed analyses highlight the region’s logistical challenges for militarization.