China accelerates construction of fifth Antarctic base amid surveillance concerns

China has resumed construction on its fifth research facility in Antarctica, which could also be used for intelligence collection, according to a report by the Center for Strategic and International Studies. The new station's position on Inexpressible Island near the Ross Sea could enable China to collect signals intelligence from US-allied Australia and New Zealand and telemetry data on rockets launching from newly established space facilities in both countries. The 5,000-square-meter station is expected to include a scientific research and observation area, an energy facility, a main building, a logistics facility, and a wharf for China's Xuelong icebreakers.