Ministry of Natural Resources

The Ministry of Natural Resources is a Chinese governmental body responsible for managing the nation's natural resources. Recently, its East China Sea Bureau conducted a marine environmental survey east of Taiwan, a move interpreted as reinforcing China's jurisdictional claims in the region, particularly following maritime boundary talks between Japan and the Philippines. Concurrently, a Ministry-affiliated research vessel, the "Haiyang Dizhi 2," successfully tested an advanced deep-sea device capable of cutting submarine cables at depths of 3,500 meters. These activities highlight the Ministry's engagement in both asserting territorial claims through scientific exploration and advancing deep-sea technological capabilities. The recent operations underscore the Ministry's role in China's strategic interests concerning maritime sovereignty and technological development in its surrounding waters.