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Australia's ABC News claimed on Sunday that the United States administration's funding cuts to science programs in Antarctica "could create a void for China and Russia to fill", which should be a cause of concern for Canberra.

澳大利亚广播公司周日称，美国政府削减南极洲科学项目资金，“可能会让中国和俄罗斯趁虚而入”，堪培拉对此需保持警惕。

To interpret China's normal scientific activities in Antarctica as a "threat" to Australia's national interest reflects a misguided and narrow mindset that ignores international law. It also brings to light the political bias and selfishness harbored by some in Australia who regard Antarctica as their country's own backyard.

将中国在南极洲的正常科学活动曲解为对澳大利亚国家利益的 “威胁”，这是一种无视国际法的错误且狭隘的心态，也暴露了澳大利亚部分人士将南极洲视为本国 “后花园” 的政治偏见与自私本性。

In contrast to China's growing scientific footprint in Antarctica, the US, the traditional leader in Antarctic diplomacy and research, has significantly reduced funding for both Antarctica's largest research and logistics station, McMurdo, and the National Science Foundation which funds US research in Antarctica.

与中国在南极洲的科学活动日益拓展形成反差的是，作为南极洲外交与研究传统领军者的美国，已大幅削减对南极洲最大研究与后勤基地麦克默多站，以及为美国南极洲研究提供资金的国家科学基金会的投入。

China now has five research stations on the continent, with the latest outpost, Qinling, officially opened and put into operation in February last year. The country has also, for the first time, overtaken the US in the number of research papers on Antarctica published in the past year.

目前，中国在南极洲拥有 5 个科考站，其中最新的秦岭站于去年 2 月正式启用并投入运营。过去一年，中国在南极洲研究领域发表的论文数量首次超过美国。

China's increasing presence and contributions in the region, consistent with its status as a consultative party to the Antarctic Treaty, are conducted strictly in accordance with the Antarctic Treaty System and should be recognized as being an important international public good. These efforts enhance humanity's scientific understanding of the remote southernmost continent and promote peaceful cooperation on and sustainable development of Antarctica.

中国在南极洲不断扩大存在并作出贡献，这与其《南极条约》协商国的地位相符，且完全依照南极条约体系开展，理应被视作重要的国际公共产品。这些努力增进了人类对这片遥远南极大陆的科学认知，推动了南极洲的和平合作与可持续发展。

The country's upgraded infrastructure construction on the continent is not only a practical necessity for conducting research in one of the world's harshest environments, but also "provides a platform for China's cooperation with other countries in scientific exploration, promoting peace and sustainable development in Antarctica", as a Foreign Ministry spokesperson said on the opening of Qinling.

中国在南极洲升级基础设施建设，不仅是在这一全球最恶劣环境之一开展研究的实际需求，正如外交部发言人在秦岭站启用时所指出的，这也 “为中国与其他国家开展科学探索合作、促进南极洲和平与可持续发展搭建了平台”。

To understand how absurd the Antarctica-related anti-China rhetoric is, it is essential to have a look at the framework governing Antarctica, namely the Antarctic Treaty. The treaty was established in 1959 and entered into force in 1961. It designates the continent as a zone of peace and science while prohibiting military activity, mineral mining and nuclear tests. It emphasizes scientific research and international cooperation, a common-good spirit that has largely been upheld by all its signatories.

要认清有关南极洲的反华言论有多荒谬，就得了解管理南极洲的基本框架 ——《南极条约》。该条约 1959 年制定、1961 年生效，将南极洲划定为和平与科学之地，禁止军事活动、矿产开采和核试验，强调科学研究与国际合作，这一公益精神在很大程度上得到了所有缔约国的遵循。

The Antarctic Treaty sets out the governance mechanism for Antarctica and provides a system framework for the protection of the continent. The robust governance structure ensures that any nation's activities, including China's, are subject to international scrutiny and regulation.

《南极条约》确立了南极洲的治理机制，为这片大陆的保护提供了制度框架。这一健全的治理结构确保任何国家的活动，包括中国的活动，都处于国际监督与监管之下。

Yet despite that, efforts at denigrating China and describing it as a "threat" to the region have never ceased. The Centre for Strategic and International Studies, a US think tank, falsely warned during Qinling's construction that the facility, with a satellite ground station, will have inherent dual-use capabilities, a worry that ABC News