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China, New Zealand lead historic dives in southern abyss, Australia complains

Scientific mission collects specimens from ocean depths of 6,000 metres in first crewed exploration of Tasman Sea trench

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China’s deep-sea manned submersible Fendouzhe on display aboard the research vessel in New Zealand before the expedition to the Puysegur Trench. Photo: Xinhua
Ling Xinin Ohio
China and New Zealand have led the world’s first crewed expedition to the depths of the remote Puysegur Trench, which cleaves through the floor of the south Tasman Sea, in a mission hailed as a triumph of oceanic exploration.
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However, the expedition – a collaboration of 68 scientists from eight countries – sparked unease in nearby Australia, underscoring the geopolitical tensions that are simmering beneath the waves.

Canberra raised concerns on Monday about the presence of the Tan Suo Yi Hao research vessel as it sailed along Australia’s southern coastline, just days after completing its historic exploration of the Puysegur Trench off the New Zealand coast.
According to the Chinese Academy of Sciences’ Institute of Deep-Sea Science and Engineering at Sanya, in the southern province of Hainan, the scientists were from China, New Zealand, Malaysia, Denmark, Germany, France, Brazil, and India.

During the mission, the researchers discovered the southern hemisphere’s deepest cold seep ecosystem to date and collected specimens – many of them previously unknown – from depths of more than 6,000 metres (19,700 feet).

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Australia was not part of the 80-day collaborative mission, despite its proximity to the Puysegur Trench and its substantial deep-ocean research community spread across a number of scientific agencies and universities.

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