China launched its 16th Arctic Ocean expedition on July 3, with addressing climate change and its impacts serving as a central focus of the mission.

The Ministry of Natural Resources, which organized the expedition, said the Arctic is experiencing rapid and profound environmental changes driven by global warming, including accelerating sea ice loss. It said continued Arctic expeditions provide vital scientific support for tackling climate change, promoting sustainable development in the region, and helping China and the international community better understand, protect, and govern the Arctic.

Setting sail from the northeastern city of Dalian are the Xuelong ("Snow Dragon"), China's oldest icebreaker in service, together with the domestically built Xuelong 2 and Jidi ("Polar"). A fourth vessel, Tansuo-3 ("Exploration 3"), will also join the mission.

The expedition has 361 scientific research personnel in total on board and is led by Wang Jinhui, who last headed China's 41st Antarctic expedition, which concluded in 2025.

The Arctic mission is expected to conclude in early October. Over the course of roughly three months, the team will carry out comprehensive surveys and monitoring of sea ice, hydrology, biology, ecosystems, and atmospheric conditions across key areas of the Arctic Ocean. The mission will also explore frontier scientific questions, including the spreading mechanism of the Gakkel Ridge and the dynamic evolution of oceanic crust, while conducting joint scientific operations with researchers from Russia, Germany, and other countries.

The expedition marks China's first Arctic mission under the 15th Five-Year Plan (2026–2030), which identifies stronger polar research infrastructure as part of the country's broader effort to advance scientific and technological innovation and develop its marine economy.