China's first deep-sea research center is the latest attempt to protect the ecology of the Nansha Islands, observers said.

The center, which officially began operations on Tuesday, is also an essential step for China to build itself into a maritime power, they said.

The Institute of Deep-Sea Science and Engineering of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, located in Sanya, Hainan province, will focus on research beyond depths of 6,500 meters, known as the hadal zone. This a new field of study for Chinese engineering.

"Mankind has entered an era of marine resource development, but a lot of research and ecological evaluation is required before exploiting the resources," said Cui Weicheng, a professor at the Hadal Science and Technology Research Center at Shanghai Ocean University.

Among the reasons that the institute's research will be significant, Cui said, is that in order to protect the ecology of the Nansha Islands, statistics collected from deep-sea research will be needed to assess possible models for exploiting resources.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei previously dismissed claims that China's activities on the Nansha Islands are harmful to the marine environment.

"As owner of the Nansha Islands, China cares about protecting the ecological environment of the islands, reefs and water more than any other country, organization or people in the world," Hong said. China's activities on the Nansha Islands strictly follow the principle of conducting green projects and building ecological islands and reefs, he added.

Xu Liping, a senior researcher of Southeast Asia studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, said the operation of the research center comes at a time when deep-sea study is urgently needed.

"Development and cooperation in the South China Sea will be the mainstream in the future," he said.

The institute also takes China further along the path to joining the leading players in deep-sea studies, experts said.

Only when a country is engaged in this field, which is the cutting edge of ocean science, can it qualify as a maritime power, Cui said.

Chen Qinghong, a researcher of South China Sea issues at the China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations, said, "Deep-sea research benefits all human beings, and it reflects a country's comprehensive strength."

Contact the writer at mojingxi@chinadaily.com.cn

(China Daily 05/13/2016 page3)