Chinese resources chief eyes Antarctica minerals

A DELEGATION of Chinese dignitaries, including a senior resources minister, flew into Casey Station in Antarctica yesterday to meet Australian officials.

The Chinese contingent lunched with visiting Australian Antarctic and diplomatic officials before being taken by helicopter to their research icebreaker Xue Long, the Snow Dragon, moored in the nearby bay.

The presence of the Chinese Minister for Land and Resources, Xu Shaoshi, underlines China’s increasing interest in the vast natural resources of Antarctica.

Mr Xu declined to be interviewed. One of his party said the visit was to familiarise officials with China’s expanding Antarctic operations, which include investigating the potential of untapped minerals and resources.

…The Chinese Government has strongly backed Chinese enterprises to buy foreign resources assets using the nation’s vast foreign exchange reserves.

Chinese investors have increasingly targeted assets in non-Western countries and territories after running into political barriers in the United States and more recently Australia.

Chinese media reports have not mentioned that senior officials such as Mr Xu were in Antarctica, nor that they were interested in resources.

Sydney Morning Herald