China has reportedly begun constructing a massive floating artificial island designed to withstand a nuclear strike, a project that signals a major escalation in the global race for maritime power. Chinese state-linked researchers describe the structure as a new “mega science infrastructure,” underscoring Beijing’s push to expand its strategic capabilities at sea.The 78,000-tonne semi-submersible twin-hull platform is described as the world’s first mobile, self-sustaining artificial island.“We’re racing to complete the design and construction, aiming for operational status by 2028,” Lin Zhongqin, an academician leading the project, was quoted as saying in an interview with Economic Information Daily in April last year.
A look into the project
The structure is reported to have a displacement comparable to the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Navy’s new Fujian aircraft carrier and can accommodate up to 238 personnel for four months without resupply. When operational in 2028, it is expected to offer extended endurance and significant reach across contested waters, as cited by the South China Morning Post. However, behind its scientific purpose is a nuclear-blast-resistant design that, according to researchers associated with the project, employs “metamaterial” sandwich panels engineered to absorb catastrophic shock waves and reduce them to manageable pressure.“This deep-sea major scientific facility is designed for all-weather, long-term residency,” the research team led by Professor Yang Deqing of Shanghai Jiao Tong University (SJTU) noted in a peer-reviewed research paper.Its superstructure also reportedly houses essential systems for emergency power, communications and navigation control, making nuclear blast protection for these areas crucial. According to design contracts signed in December 2024 between Shanghai Jiao Tong University and China State Shipbuilding Corporation, the platform will span 138 metres in length and 85 metres in width, with its main deck positioned 45 metres above the waterline. Its twin-hull structure is engineered to operate in sea state 7 conditions, featuring waves up to nine metres, and to withstand typhoons rated as high as category 17, the strongest classification for tropical cyclones.Unlike fixed stations or ships constrained by fuel and supplies, the platform can travel at 15 knots while supporting more than 100 researchers engaged in continuous deep-sea observation, equipment testing and seabed resource studies.The facility also signals China’s push to advance its “blue economy” agenda, including deep-sea resource extraction, marine renewable energy and climate research.
Where will it be located
The facility is expected to operate in areas that may include contested waters such as the South China Sea, a region rich in untapped mineral resources and biodiversity.Although presented as a civilian project, it references GJB 1060.1-1991, a Chinese military standard for nuclear blast protection, indicating potential dual-use objectives, as cited by the Daily Mail.
