China upgrades polar bases

China plans to invest US$60 million in upgrading its Polar research facilities, including building a third research station in Antarctica. The two existing Antarctic research stations will also be rebuilt as part of the improvements, the first of which was established in 1985. The new station will be built at the highest point of the Polar icecap, known as Doma A, some 4,300 meters above sea level. China is one of 47 signatories to the Antarctic Treaty, 28 of which have set up research stations on Antarctica.