English 
Spanish 
3 min read 
0 comments 
The facility will be anchored to the seabed, will allow scientists to live underwater for up to a month and will investigate 70 billion tons of methane, as well as valuable minerals such as cobalt and nickel – all this in one of the most disputed regions on the planet!
China has announced an audacious project that could redefine ocean exploration: an underwater mega-laboratory that will be installed 2.000 meters deep in the disputed South China Sea.
In addition to being an impressive technological feat, the station has a clear objective: to study “cold seep” ecosystems, marine areas rich in biodiversity that may hide vast reserves of methane. But could this initiative generate new geopolitical tensions?
What is the megalaboratory and where will it be built?
The facility will be a true underwater headquarters, anchored to the seabed and continuously monitoring the depths. Its main focus will be to analyze the chemical and biological processes in cold seep areas, environments rich in life and potentially full of valuable energy resources.
- Russia tests nuclear missile with global range, highlighting military potential: RIA
- Historic feat! Researcher clones 700-year-old Araucaria tree that fell in Paraná and guarantees the preservation of the species!
- First patient with Elon Musk's Neuralink chip moves computer cursor using only brain signals decoded by brain implant
- Study led by Princeton and the University of California shows that it is possible to generate electricity with the Earth's rotation and magnetic field, discovery was published in March 2025
The project has been in the planning stages for years, and its construction could intensify territorial disputes in the region. After all, the South China Sea is a sensitive area, with several nations claiming parts of the maritime territory.
Submerged headquarters: what will the laboratory structure be like?
The underwater laboratory will be equipped with state-of-the-art life support systems, allowing teams of up to six scientists to live and conduct research on-site for up to a month.
Using highly accurate sensors, the mega-laboratory will constantly read the levels of methane and other substances present in the ocean. The presence of this gas is crucial because may represent a new frontier for production of energy, significantly increasing Chinese reserves.
Four-dimensional network and connection with Chinese infrastructure
In addition to the underwater laboratory, the project includes an integrated ocean exploration network. Unmanned submarines, research vessels and seabed observatories will be part of a system called the four-dimensional network, designed to provide China with unprecedented information about its territorial waters.
Another important detail is that the megalab will be connected to China's undersea fiber optic network, allowing real-time communication with researchers on the surface. Although scientists have not yet revealed what the station's power source will be, nuclear power is a possibility.
Megalaboratory and the dispute in the South China Sea
The construction of the laboratory could generate intense international reactions, as the South China Sea is one of the most disputed areas on the planet.
Several countries, including Vietnam, the Philippines and Malaysia, also claim parts of the region. The presence of a Chinese scientific station on the seabed could be interpreted as an assertion of territorial control, generating new diplomatic tensions.
The project also resembles a US initiative: the Proteus ocean research center, which is being developed by the Proteus Ocean Group. Both countries appear to be in a race to dominate ocean exploration.
Strategic and economic resources of the seabed
The South China Sea does not it is only strategically important — it could hide a fortune underwater. It is estimated that there are 70 billion tons of methane trapped beneath the ocean sands.
This gas, which exists in solid hydrate form, could increase China's oil and gas reserves by 50%. The region contains large deposits of cobalt, nickel and other rare earth minerals, which are essential for the high-tech industry.
