Beijing is undergoing the “most significant” expansion of its footprint in Antarctica after new satellite images revealed the communist regime was resuming construction on a fifth polar station.
A Washington-based think tank believes the new station, located on Inexpressible Island near the Ross Sea, could double as a spying operation.
“While essential for tracking and communicating with China’s growing array of scientific satellites, ground stations can support intelligence collection,” the report from the Center for Strategic and International Studies said.
“Importantly, the station’s position may enable it to collect signals intelligence from U.S.-allied Australia and New Zealand and could collect telemetry data on rockets launching from newly established space facilities in both countries.”…