Chinese icebreaker sets sail for landmark autumn expedition in Antarctic sea

China's 41st Antarctic expedition team set sail from New Zealand on Friday for the Ross Sea, embarking on a joint research mission to conduct scientific investigations of the Antarctic in autumn.

After completing resupply and crew rotation in mid-March at New Zealand's Lyttelton Harbor in Christchurch, the team aboard China's research icebreaker Xuelong 2, or Snow Dragon 2, officially launched the Ross Sea joint expedition.

This marks China's first-ever research autumn mission in the Antarctic sea, with Chinese and international scientists working together to explore the ecosystem of the deep bay off the Antarctic coast.

He Jianfeng, deputy leader and principal investigator of the 41st Antarctic Expedition, emphasized that the expedition will make a significant contribution to scientific understanding.

"A mission during this season, focusing on the entire ecosystem, is very rare internationally. Actually, we are the first ones to research on Antarctic krill, birds, and mammals in particular. We have received a wide response from international scientists. It involves the most countries participating since our expedition in the Antarctic Ocean so far," said He.

The expedition team includes 44 researchers from nine countries, namely China, the United States, the United Kingdom, Norway, Australia, New Zealand, South Korea, Malaysia, and Thailand.

They will spend about a month conducting research on the dark marine ecosystem in the Ross Sea.

"This is my first time to be here, to be on the icebreaking research vessel. I come from a very tropic [region]. So I'm very excited and very happy to learn everything here. I plan to collect microplastics from the Ross Sea. I hope I can have an international publication. My knowledge can be extended to the younger generation, to see or to tell what is happening now and let them think about their future," said a Thai researcher from Chulalongkorn University, a member of the crew.

"My job is to study phytoplankton, and because largely, phytoplankton have never been studied in the March-April time period. And so, it's unknown whether they're active. The cruise is an incredible opportunity for me and the entire science crew," said Walker Smith, a professor of Shanghai Jiaotong University and another member of the crew.

While international data on summer investigations in the Antarctic Ocean is abundant, He, the chief scientist, emphasized that there is a dire lack of data on other seasons.

Taking place during the Antarctic autumn, this expedition will focus on the "dark season" -- a period with no sunlight, scarce food, and widespread sea ice -- and aims to explore how Antarctic species like krill survive in such extreme conditions.

This mission will help fill international gaps in research and lead the study of dark ecosystems in the surrounding waters of the Antarctic, increasing China's global presence in polar scientific research.

Furthermore, researchers will test the Xuelong 2 icebreaker's performance in autumn conditions, gathering data that will help the future design and international application of China's polar research vessels.

Chinese icebreaker sets sail for landmark autumn expedition in Antarctic sea

A former television host from Taiwan, Zhai Xuan, has made a pivotal decision to leave mainstream broadcasting in order to create content that provides a better understanding of the Chinese mainland and cross-strait relations.

Zhai, a seasoned television host with over a decade of experience in Taiwan's media landscape, recently addressed an audience at an event in Beijing, where she revealed her complete transition into independent online media.

In her remarks, she articulated her aspiration to bridge what she perceives as a significant information gap between audiences on both sides of the Strait, highlighting her commitment to fostering a deeper understanding and connection through her new endeavors.

"I was really surprised by all the fake news. There were stories saying people on the mainland can't afford tea eggs or that they live in mud houses and in Taiwan, this was the main information many people received," said Zhai.

Zhai said she initially began producing online videos to challenge such perceptions while continuing her work as a television host.

In April 2025, she travelled to the mainland with her father to fulfill her late grandfather's wish to return to his hometown. The trip, which reunited family members separated since 1949, was recorded in a video series titled "Journey to Find Our Roots", drawing attention from viewers in both Taiwan and the mainland.

"Many people in Taiwan told me that after watching, they wanted to apply for a mainland travel permit immediately and go looking for their relatives. Some had long forgotten these things, but after seeing my story, they began thinking about their hometowns and family members they had never met and decided to search for their roots," Zhai shared her story at the event.

By mid-2025, Zhai said she began to feel increasing pressure amid rising political tensions and a tightening atmosphere around cross-Strait exchanges in Taiwan.

After more than 12 years in the industry, Zhai resigned from her position, believing it was the right thing to do.

"At that moment, I felt this was a major issue，not just for me, but for Chinese people on both sides of the Strait. If I backed down then, I wouldn’t be standing on the right side," said Zhai.

Since leaving television, Zhai has broadened her online programming to encompass a range of daily-life topics, including practical guidance on applying for a mainland travel permit and using commonly employed mobile applications, in addition to content that delves into historical memory and cultural connections across the Strait.

As the debate over cross-Strait relations continues in Taiwan, Zhai said she remains committed to her current path.

Former Taiwan TV host bridges cross-Strait divide via online media