. Earth Science News .
Taiwan, China to collaborate in Antarctic research

Chinese icebreaker and research vessel Xue Long.
by Staff Writers
Taipei (AFP) Oct 8, 2009
Taiwan and China will cooperate on research in Antarctica for the first time, an official said Thursday, in a sign that ties between the two former arch foes are warming even in polar science.

Three Taiwanese biologists will join a Chinese team in Antarctica for periods ranging up to three months, said Wang Wei-hsien, director of Taiwan's Museum of Marine Biology and Aquarium.

One of the three will board China's icebreaker and research vessel Xue Long, which is due to set off from Shanghai on Sunday, carrying 251 researchers on its largest mission yet.

Two other biologists will join once the ship has arrived on the icy continent, where the Taiwanese group will study organic pollution and marine organisms.

"Taiwanese researchers haven't set foot on Antarctica for decades, and this will be a whole new experience for us," Wang said.

Taiwan and China agreed to join hands when The Xue Long made its high-profile maiden voyage to the island in April on the way back from its 25th mission to Antarctica.

Some 2,000 Taiwanese visited the ship when it was anchored at Taiwan's southern port of Kaohsiung.

Since kickstarting economic reforms three decades ago, China has made scientific projects a priority, establishing three research bases in Antarctica since 1985.

Beijing still sees Taiwan as part of its territory awaiting reunification by force if necessary, although they have been governed separately after a civil war in 1949.

Ties have improved dramatically since Beijing-friendly Ma Ying-jeou became Taiwan's president last year.

Share This Article With Planet Earth
del.icio.usdel.icio.us DiggDigg RedditReddit
YahooMyWebYahooMyWeb GoogleGoogle FacebookFacebook



Related Links
Beyond the Ice Age



Memory Foam Mattress Review
Newsletters :: SpaceDaily :: SpaceWar :: TerraDaily :: Energy Daily
XML Feeds :: Space News :: Earth News :: War News :: Solar Energy News


NASA to resume 'Operation Ice Bridge'
Edwards Air Force Base, Calif. (UPI) Oct 1, 2009
The U.S. space agency says it is ready to start a study of the Earth's southern ice-covered regions to identify changes in sea ice, ice sheets and glaciers. On Oct. 12, NASA's "Operation Ice Bridge" resumes when the space agency's DC-8 -- the largest aircraft in its science fleet - leaves the Dryden Flight Research Center in California for Punta Arenas, Chile, where it will be based th ... read more







The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2009 - SpaceDaily. AFP and UPI Wire Stories are copyright Agence France-Presse and United Press International. ESA Portal Reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. Advertising does not imply endorsement,agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by SpaceDaily on any Web page published or hosted by SpaceDaily. Privacy Statement