Reforming China’s polar science and technology system

Abstract

Along with its modernization process, China has developed many interests in polar ecology and has connected the significance of the Antarctic and Arctic to its national interests. We present an in-depth analysis and assessment of the state of the art of China's polar research from following points of view, mechanism of policy making on polar affairs, science diplomacy and polar governance, on-spot research expedition management, allocation of scientific funds, forming polar scientific team, especially on the management system of CHINARE. From an integrated perspective of social and natural sciences, we present a vision for future reform and development of polar affairs of China: to establish a macro and long term policy for the polar regions, to promote and establish a government-led, diversified polar scientific management system, to establish a reasonable and rule based evaluation system, to train, stabilize and expand polar scientific research teams, and to attract and encourage talents for polar science communication.

The Chinese Antarctic science programme: origins and development

“…1.The structure of China's key Antarctic administrative departments, as well as their founding dates and present locations. The grey boxes indicate that the organization has changed its name or been merged with another (sources from Chinese official websites and Zhang et al 2019). …”

“…The MNR took over the responsibilities of the Ministry of Land and Resources, which oversaw the SOA, and six other ministries. The MNR has taken over many of the responsibilities of the former SOA (Zhang et al 2019). One of the responsibilities of the SOA was to organize and carry out international exchanges and cooperation in the marine field, to participate in negotiations and consultations on foreign-related marine affairs, to organize the implementation of international marine conventions, treaties and agreements such as the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and the Antarctic Treaty and to undertake affairs related to the polar regions, high seas and international sea beds (SOA 2014).…”