Science and Technology Daily reports that once installed, it will be the world's most advanced observation tower for comprehensive scientific research.
Beijing faces backlash from neighbours over expanded territorial claims in a new official map.
China faces backlash from neighboring countries over the expanded territorial claims in a new official map.
The Tongji Hai-1 is expected to be placed in the East China Sea by the middle of this month, according to Tongji University's leading research partner, Tongji University.
China, which aims to be a marine powerhouse, launched the structure, its first multi-tiered stereoscopic tower base observation platform, on Saturday, according to China's Science and Technology Daily.
The discovery of a new underwater observation structure that sits over 100 metres above sea level and weighs over 4,500 tons is a significant advancement in China's marine research capabilities and will protect its maritime rights, according to a Chinese newspaper.
The project, which will be sponsored by China Offshore Oil Engineering Co Ltd, will allow at least 66 diverse types or 195 sets of observation equipment to gather environmental and oceanic data.
The platform's devices will continuously monitor environmental data, delivering accurate oceanographic big data services crucial for research on climate change and serving as an early warning system for maritime disasters.
The tower is taller and bigger than conventional underwater monitors such as buoy systems. It has a design weight of more than 4,500 tons - roughly one-tenth the weight launched by China in 2017 -, and rises around 103 metres above sea level, standing as China's tallest marine observation facility.
Hui Shengli, CNOOC Engineering's project manager, said the platform boasted the highest number of monitoring sensors among marine structures in China, and would operate as a smart device with digital risk control and maintenance procedures.
It is a vital component of China's first major national technological infrastructure project in the marine sector, known as the.
The National Development and Reform Commission announced it in March 2017 and the project was jointly led by Tongji University and the Institute of Acoustics within the Chinese Academy of Sciences.
In those days, more than a dozen countries, including the United States, Canada, and Japan, had established undersea observation networks.
The project, which spanned five years and resulted in a total investment exceeding 2.1 billion yuan, aimed to establish undersea science observation networks in the East and South China seas, primarily connected via optical-electric composite cables.
Four frontier questions - such as human influences on land-sea interactions - are priority inquiry fields in this network, state news agency Xinhua said.
In November 2022, Tongji University held a project signing ceremony for the observation platform with CNOOC Engineering in Shanghai. In April, construction began in Qingdao, a coastal city in northeastern China.
The South China Morning Post sought comment from several scientists at Tongji University responsible for the platform but hasn't received any answers. One leading scientist, Shi Zhenming, said the team was not granting interviews about the facility, although the university announced the Tongji Hai-1 launch on its website on Saturday.
The project reflects China's desire to become a prominent maritime nation.
In a national press conference held in July, Wang Hong, the vice-minister of natural resources, said enhancing marine monitoring and early warning capabilities was one of the best ways to achieve this goal.
The strategic importance of the ocean in China's 'high-quality development' was emphasised by Wang.
The ministry has been conducting research on a three-dimensional worldwide ocean observation network, Wang said in a statement.
It was made possible by establishing a complete 'land-sea-air-sky' system encompassing marine stations, Radar Networks, buoys, the Seafloor Scientific Observation Network, volunteer ships, cross-section surveys and satellite remote sensing.
Beyond the monitoring system, Wang highlighted other aspects of China's push to become an oceanic power and to achieve high-quality development: promoting high-quality development of the maritime economy, strengthening conservation measures and using marine resources, and taking part in global marine governance.