The Institute of Deep-Sea Science and Engineering (IDSSE) at the Chinese Academy of Sciences, located in Sanya, South China's Hainan Province officially began operations, authorities reported on Wednesday.
"The deep sea has a wealth of resources including mineral, biotic and petroleum resources, and there are more than 40 billion tons of petroleum in the South China Sea alone. Therefore, it is necessary to enhance scientific research capabilities there," Gao Shu, a director of the School of Geographic and Oceanographic Sciences at Nanjing University, told the Global Times.
The IDSSE's studies on complex marine environments will also help to improve military naval technology in the country.
