MUR Powell
Dr Head of UNCLASSIFIED
1. Misarid and
2.
That the Chinese have
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to Argentov. DATE:
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4. Mr Palmer 0.V.
A J Sindall, SAMD 28 January 1985
smiltis intworks, and slightly worny slott, FED
interesty;
karian Chinese have asked his cc:
Mr
Agentines but not us (despite contact who he BAS) for material
Sir W Harding
1
help in seke
CHINESE ACTIVITIES IN ANTARCTICA
men station.
30/1
1. You asked whether we were aware of the establishment by the Chinese of a scientific research station on King
War had spotted of the Island, in the South Sandwich Islands, British bim' NCNA fexk) Antarctic Territory.
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We were Shetland
2. We have known for some time that the Chinese intended to despatch a scientific expedition to Antarctica to establish a scientific base there (Mr Duggin's minute of 23 August 1984). A Chinese scientific team visited the British Antarctic Survey (BAS) in September 1983 and Dr Laws, the Director of BAS, paid a return visit to the Chinese Antarctic Institute earlier this year.
3. The Chinese MFA formally notified us (as they are required to do under the Antarctic Treaty, which they acceded to in 1983) in September 1984 that they intended to set up a base "at a place it chooses in the Antarctic peninsula", and, as the Antarctic Treaty gives them freedom of access for scientific purposes anywhere in Antarctica, we acquiesced in this.
4. King George Island has become something of a Piccadilly Circus in Antarctica. Argentina, Poland, Chile and the USSR all have established stations there. In addition to China, Brazil has recently set up a station there, and Uruguay is in the process of doing so. It is, of course, one of the more easily accessible points of Antarctica.
5. King George Island lies in the area of conflicting sovereignty claims between Chile, Argentina and ourselves.
1
28 January 1985
ALZ 020/5 Ada Andel
AJ Sindall
South America Department
Mr Dragin
TD
2
up
Could you please follow of in
Harding'? query
7.1711/6/2
SEW.