As part of China's marine observation network in the East China Sea, buoys in waters where sovereignty remains disputed are used to collect real-time ocean data and ensure navigation safety, yet even these scientific instruments have become embroiled in a broader geopolitical debate.
In recent years, one point of friction has centered on scientific buoys near Diaoyu Dao.
One of them lies about 50 nautical miles from the islands and has been in operation since 2013.
"There are two main scientific devices on the deck of the Xiangyanghong 22 research vessel. One is a large A-frame, 19 meters tall and 14 meters wide. It is used to lift and deploy our 10-meter ocean buoy, which weighs around 60 tons. The other is an articulated crane," said Sha Wei, an engineer at East China Sea Bureau of the Ministry of Natural Resources.
"There are thousands of buoys around the world. Their main purpose is to collect scientific data from the ocean. These systems serve the public, and even the wider world," he said.
Sha said the buoys are scientific equipment. But in contested waters, even such equipment can become politically charged.
Scientific buoys near Diaoyu Dao debated due to sovereignty issues
Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin on Sunday denounced the explosion at a central Moscow restaurant as a "brutal terrorist act."
The incident occurred Saturday at a prestigious restaurant in the Kudrinskaya Square district, leaving three dead and at least 21 injured.
"Yesterday, a brutal terrorist act was committed in Moscow that claimed human lives," Sergei Sobyanin wrote in a social media post.
The restaurant, located on the ground floor of a well-known Stalin-era high-rise near Barrikadnaya metro station, was hosting a private event at the time, with around 50 guests inside.
According to Russia's National Anti-Terrorism Committee, a woman attempted to bring an improvised explosive device into the establishment but was intercepted by a security guard. Following this, an explosion occurred, which was followed by a fire classified as the third level of complexity.
Among the deceased were the woman who attempted to detonate the device, the security guard, and a restaurant visitor. Six of the injured remain in serious condition, and medical teams are working to stabilize them. The surrounding area was cordoned off throughout the night, with bomb disposal experts and emergency services conducting operations at the scene. Even the night bicycle race along the Garden Ring was canceled.
The Mayor of Moscow also said that law enforcement agencies are investigating all the circumstances of the incident.
Moscow mayor calls restaurant explosion "brutal terrorist act"
