Iran and China Move on Antarctica By James Reed
There are reports that Iran is claiming that it has ambitions to claim Antarctica and build a military base at the South Pole, according to Iranian Navy Commander Rear Admiral Shahram Irani. He believes that Iran has property rights the region, but no basis was detailed. The Biden regime, best know for acts of treason, released $ 6 billion in frozen funds just prior to the Iran-backed Hamas massacre of 1,200 people on October 7 in southern Israel. While the US State Department said that these funds can only be used for humanitarian purposes, the Iranian regime said they will use it how they see fit, and building a military base in Antarctica, with the aim of taking over the region, being but one goal.
While Iran sabre rattles, China has moved to open its fifth research station in Antarctica. The Qinling station, is located in the ice-free Ross Sea, allowing a free movement of personnel there all year. It is a strategic location as at present ships are using the Drake Passage which is between South America and China's Great Wall station in Antarctica.Infrastructure built by China in Chile and Argentina, along with the new base could allow China to control the Drake passage in a military confrontation with the West.
This is but another sign of increasing military aggression by Iran and China. It is not clear what China thinks about Iran's claim to the entire Antarctic.
"Iran's Navy commander announced in a televised broadcast last fall that the regime owns Antarctica and will build a military operation in the South Pole.
"We have property rights in the South Pole. We have plan to raise our flag there and carry out military and scientific work," Iranian Navy Commander Rear Admiral Shahram Irani said in late September, according to a translation by the Washington D.C.-based Middle East Media Research Institute (MEMRI).
Iran's naval saber-rattling is drawing new attention in response to the Iranian-backed militias that murdered three U.S. soldiers in Jordan last month.
Fox News Digital asked a U.S. State Department spokesperson if the recent American unfreezing of $6 billion in Iranian funds held in Qatar could be used by Iran to set up a base in Antarctica.
"No. Iran's funds held in Qatar may not be used for any activities in Antarctica," the spokesperson said. "Those funds can only be used to purchase humanitarian goods, meaning food, medicine, medical devices, and agricultural products."
Despite the clerical regime's growing bellicosity in the Middle East and across the world, according to veteran Iran observers, the Biden administration released $6 billion in sanctions relief to Tehran's rulers ahead of the Iran-backed Hamas massacre of 1,200 people on Oct. 7 in southern Israel.
Hamas slaughtered over 30 Americans during its invasion of Israel.
Iran's President, Ebrahim Raisi, who was sanctioned by former President Trump for his role in the two massacres of Iranian dissidents and protesters, disputed the Biden administration's restrictions on the use of the $6 billion.
Raisi taunted Biden's White House, declaring his regime will use the massive cash infusion "wherever we need it."
"Iran's future plans to try to expand its military presence and influence into the Antarctic would not only violate multilateral conventions on the issue, but continues the regime's trend of aggression across the globe," said Yonah Jeremy Bob, author of "Target Tehran" and a senior Jerusalem Post military and intelligence analyst.
"Iran's future plans to try to expand its military presence and influence into the Antarctic would not only violate multilateral conventions on the issue, but continues the regime's trend of aggression across the globe," said Yonah Jeremy Bob, author of "Target Tehran" and a senior Jerusalem Post military and intelligence analyst."
"When China opened its fifth research station in Antarctica this month, analysts sounded alarm bells about potential security threats on Australia's southern doorstep.
Experts warned that China's expanding activity in Antarctica combined with Australia's inaction and lack of funding could lead to Beijing's increased strategic presence in the frozen continent.
The new Qinling base could also improve China's surveillance capabilities and give it more control over transport routes to exploit resources, they say.
However, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson insisted the new station would be used to "provide a platform for joint scientific exploration and cooperation between China and other countries and help advance peace and sustainable development in the region".
Elizabeth Buchanan from the Australian National University's National Security College said the Chinese government had a "remarkable ability" to plan for the long term.
"So, they may not be looking to utilise this research station for anything other than collaborative international research for the next 20 years," Dr Buchanan said.
"And then all of a sudden, it's a staging platform … to strike, to facilitate war if that day ever came."
Why is Qinling station's location so strategic?
The Qinling station, which will be staffed year-round, is located in the ice-free Ross Sea.
"Having the base ice-free means … personnel can travel [to the base] any time of year, so it is a very strategic positioning," Dr Buchanan said.
"China's positioning of Qinling is covering another part of the Antarctic quadrant of the landmass.
"Presence is power. Another location means better for launching satellites."
Dr Buchanan added that Australia should have been building its year-round airstrip there, pooling resources with India and other nations.
Beijing's new Qinling base also fronts the Pacific arc, which has no choke points.
Vessels travelling down the Panama and Suez Canal are facing challenges including falling water levels caused by drought exacerbated by climate change.
This has forced the canals to lower the maximum depth limit on ships and has also led to a drop in marine traffic.
The Drake Passage, a turbulent body of water that lies between South America and China's Great Wall station in Antarctica, may become a more popular alternative route.
Dr Buchanan said China had spent the past 10 years building infrastructure in Chile and parts of Argentina, which had given it the ability to control the passage.
"They could cut off the Drake Passage in all sorts of ways," she said.
"They [China] could make that passage difficult to pass and control shipping … or by having more boats to be able to monitor and block [the passage] with their own boats."
Looming military concerns
The former head of the Australian Antarctic Division, Tony Press, does not believe the new Qinling base will pose an increased surveillance risk because China already has surveillance operations in other parts of the world.
He said China's construction of Qinling station met the fundamental obligations of the Antarctic Treaty for peaceful use and non-militarisation as per Australia's inspection of the station in 2020.
Instead, Mr Press said what was "alarming" was Australia's underinvestment in Antarctica for science and logistics capabilities — particularly the lack of capacity to operate in all parts of Antarctica all year round.
Official inspections of stations to monitor compliance can be conducted by any party of the Antarctic Treaty after a consultative meeting.
"I think the idea of building up Australia's capability to do more inspections could be utilised because they keep mutual assurance," Mr Press said.
When asked about security concerns for Australia, a Department of Foreign spokesperson referred the ABC to the terms of the Antarctic Treaty, which prohibits the militarisation of Antarctica.
The treaty was signed by 12 nations in 1959 during the Cold War and designated the continent as a "natural reserve, devoted to peace and science".
Australia, being one of the original signatories of the treaty, has claimed 42 per cent of the continent as its sovereign territory — but that claim is only recognised by four other countries."
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