China has successfully completed 43 manned submersible dives during its Arctic expedition in 2025, according to the country's Ministry of Natural Resources. This includes missions with two crewed deep-sea vehicles working together.
These successful dives make China the only nation capable of conducting manned deep dives in the thick ice of Arctic waters. The missions explored the seabed and marine ecosystems beneath the summer ice, enhancing China's scientific presence in the northern regions.
Elizabeth Buchanan, an expert in polar geopolitics at the Australian Strategic Policy Institute, stated, “This is about developing deep-sea resources for future generations. China is working to become the world leader in managing deep-sea and seabed resources.”
The dives were accomplished using two submersibles, Fendouzhe and Jiaolong, which were carried on research vessels Tan Suo San Hao and Shen Hai Yi Hao. In total, China sent five research ships, including an icebreaker, to the Arctic last summer. Both submersibles can reach depths of at least 7,000 meters, with Fendouzhe reaching a remarkable depth of 10,909 meters at the Challenger Deep in 2020.
The dives took place in the Beaufort Sea and in the central Arctic Ocean near the Gakkel Ridge. This ridge is located in an area of disputed continental shelf claims among Arctic nations, including Russia, Denmark/Greenland, and Norway.
This achievement highlights China's increasing involvement in polar research, a field historically dominated by Russia and Western countries.
A segment on China's state broadcaster CCTV showcased the "dual-manned submersible underwater collaborative operation mode." Researchers noted that these dual submersible operations have shown advancements in navigation, communication, and safety while operating under ice, which are essential for ongoing Arctic exploration.
While Beijing promotes its Arctic activities as scientific, its growing technical capabilities, including deep diving and icebreaking, have attracted attention amidst rising strategic competition and environmental concerns in the region.
Buchanan remarked, “I suspect that Arctic rim nations, especially the U.S., would be very interested in knowing exactly what equipment the submersibles deployed at depths that are not easily accessible to current Western technology. Once again, the Arctic presents a multi-domain challenge for the West, and China has increased the stakes in deep-sea and seabed operations.”
Over the past decade, China has consistently ramped up its activity in the Arctic, sending icebreakers, research vessels, and unmanned submersibles to the area. Beijing portrays these efforts as part of a strategy for "peaceful scientific development," focusing on climate research, marine biodiversity studies, and mapping undersea resources, while also aiming to establish a presence along new Arctic shipping routes.
Buchanan concluded, “The speed at which China is shaping the situation in the Arctic is impressive.”
Last month, a Chinese containership made history by being the first to connect Asia to Western Europe via the Arctic, completing the journey in a record 20 days. Next summer, the operators of the Istanbul Bridge plan to expand their routes to 16 voyages.