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China Advances Marine Technology to Become a 'Maritime Power'
China's Strategic Development in Marine Technology
China has designated deep-sea technology development as a national priority, placing it alongside low-altitude economy and aerospace technology. Chen Jiawang, Deputy Director of Donghai Laboratory, highlighted that over the past 10 to 20 years, China has achieved rapid progress in this field. It has moved from being a follower to keeping pace with global industry leaders, and in some areas, is now taking the lead. The deep sea represents a vast, largely unknown and unexplored treasure trove, and harnessing these resources is crucial not only for technological progress but also for the country's long-term sustainable development.
Role and Objectives of Donghai Laboratory
Donghai Laboratory is the only provincial-level laboratory in Zhejiang Province dedicated to overcoming major challenges in marine science and technology. It currently focuses on advanced airborne and marine equipment. Their work includes marine robotics, deep-sea resources exploration (including rare earth extraction), intelligent equipment for underwater sea farming, and offshore wind power. Deputy Director Chen Jiawang emphasized the goal of installing underwater workshops on the seafloor to allow personnel to conduct inspection and repair work, thereby enabling maintenance quality comparable to that on land.
Future Deep-Sea Exploration and AI Integration
Over the next five years, Chen Jiawang's primary focus is to explore how deep-sea artificial intelligence (AI) can be integrated with marine equipment. This initiative aims to make deep-sea exploration and surveying even easier. With the recent maiden voyage of China's drilling vessel 'Mengxiang', there is optimism that these advancements will push the frontiers of deep-sea exploration, allowing ventures into more distant waters and greater depths.
*Source: YouTube: CGTN (2026-03-14)*
