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China looks to build trusted ocean data rules with Southeast Asia
China has expanded marine science capacity since creating its first oceanography department in 1946, and now is aiming to use Xiamen’s leadership to propose a jointly governed South China Sea ocean data framework.
SCMP Economy reports that China’s next challenge in marine science is not just expanding observation and research capabilities, but developing rules for ocean data that neighboring countries trust and are willing to share.
The outlet points to how China’s marine science enterprise has grown over decades, including research fleets, satellites, ocean-observation networks, deep-sea technology and advanced laboratories, after establishing its first department of oceanography in 1946.
As Xiamen University marks the department’s 80th anniversary, the article says scientific leadership depends on how much knowledge a country produces and whether others can trust and use it, with expectations that institutions will support multilateral cooperation, information exchange and capacity building.
SCMP Economy adds that China could use Xiamen to propose a jointly governed, tiered ocean data framework for the South China Sea with Southeast Asian partners, aligning with broader “maritime community with a shared future” and “blue partnerships” language.