China's Ministry of Natural Resources think tank issued a report calling the Philippines' territorial claims in the South China Sea "unlawful" expansions, days before the 10th anniversary of a ruling that invalidated Beijing's claims.
China's Ministry of Natural Resources conducted a marine survey in its jurisdictional waters in the East China Sea using the research vessel Xiangyanghong 22. The mission aimed to understand ecological conditions for conservation efforts, with announcements of such missions being rare.
China has announced it holds the world's largest reserves of 14 essential minerals and plans to increase exploration through 2030. The move highlights Beijing's focus on resource security amid rising geopolitical tensions and export controls on critical materials.
