Chinese access to a strategic port in Chile close to Antarctica, which is under discussion, could boost the country's exploration activities in the resource-rich southern polar region, according to analysts.
They also said that while Beijing was steadily expanding its presence in Antarctica, most of its activities were commercial and China had not made public any plans for military deployment in the area.
Beijing is in talks with Chile over access to the Punta Arenas port in the South American country's southernmost region "for the realisation of projects at their bases located in the Antarctic continent", according to a Chilean foreign ministry statement.
The ministry also said that China hoped to use Punta Arenas "as a base port for the displacement of materials and personnel, both by sea and by air".
Hu Zhiyong, an expert with the Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences, said Punta Arenas " which is located on the Strait of Magellan " would be an ideal jumping-off point for Chinese exploration vessels headed to Antarctica.
"Oceanic voyages, particularly those with a scientific purpose, need a lot of supplies and it would be much easier if countries near the Antarctic could make it more convenient for Chinese vessels," Hu said. "Most countries would like to offer this kind of support as long as the voyages are not for military purposes," he added.
Elizabeth Buchanan, from the Australian National University, said access to the Chilean port could give Beijing more options on where to base its Antarctic operations, since Punta Arenas was much closer to Antarctica than Hobart, capital of the Australian island state of Tasmania.
Hobart has become an important gateway for Chinese ships heading to Antarctica since President Xi Jinping visited the city in 2014.
"Being able to diversify port options to base Antarctic operations from means that should Hobart, or other avenues, be restricted for whatever reasons, Beijing would still have the capacity to access the continent [and that would make] it difficult to cut Chinese access in a sense," she said.
Buchanan said that through robust relationships with key players in Antarctica, such as Chile and Australia, Beijing may also gain political leverage in the region, which could help China to establish its "global polar power identity".
A campsite is seen beside China's Kunlun Station, the highest base in Antarctica. Photo: Xinhua alt=A campsite is seen beside China's Kunlun Station, the highest base in Antarctica. Photo: Xinhua