China's 16th Arctic expedition sets sail from Dalian

China's 16th Arctic expedition team set sail from northeast China's Dalian port on Friday.

The mission marks China's first Arctic expedition in the first year of the 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-2030).

The fleet consists of four ships: Xuelong, Xuelong 2, Jidi, and Tansuo 3, with the survey set to wrap up by early October.

With the Arctic environment changing fast under the impact of global warming and sea ice shrinking at an alarming pace, continuous comprehensive surveys are critical for sustainable development in the region.

"The expedition will focus on addressing global climate change and its impacts, and will carry out surveys and monitoring of atmospheric environment, sea ice, biophysical environment, and oceanography in key Arctic waters. We will also explore and study some frontier issues, including the accretion mechanism of the Gakkel Ridge," said Wang Jinhui, head of the 16th Arctic expedition.

Iran's main military command, Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, on Thursday warned that any U.S. interference in the Strait of Hormuz will be met with the Iranian armed forces' "decisive and swift" response.

In a statement carried by Iranian media, the headquarters stressed that the strait is not the "aggressive U.S. playground", but the territory of Iran's "undisputed sovereignty", with its security and stability considered a red line for the Iranian military.

It stressed that all oil tankers and commercial vessels seeking to pass through the strait must use routes designated by Iran, warning that any non-compliance and use of other routes, or disregard for Iran's navigation protocols, will face the Iranian armed forces' "immediate and decisive" response, and endanger the violating vessels' safety.

The headquarters said that Iran considers any U.S. attempt to interfere in security affairs or cause disruption in the Strait of Hormuz as a threat against its national security, and will respond to it "swiftly and decisively."

It emphasized that the continued presence of U.S. manned and unmanned fighter aircraft over the waterway will cause insecurity, adding that Iran will not hesitate to take the necessary actions to "crush any aggression" by the U.S. forces and their supporters to protect its sovereignty over the strait.

Iran has tightened its grip on the strait since Feb 28, 2026, when it barred safe passage of vessels belonging to or affiliated with Israel and the United States following their joint strikes on Iranian territory.