Official sees need to be prepared for more polar area rescues

With increasing human activity in the Arctic and Antarctic regions, enhancing the capacity for self-rescue and strengthening of international cooperation in polar search-and-rescue operations have become pressing needs for China, a senior official said.

"The stranding of the Russian vessel Akademik Shokalskiy in Antarctica in December is a wake-up call for China," said Qu Tanzhou, director of the State Oceanic Administration's Chinese Arctic and Antarctic Administration.

During a 159-day Antarctic expedition, the Chinese icebreaker Xuelong, or Snow Dragon, participated in rescuing the Russians. Later, it joined the search for the missing Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370 in the southern Indian Ocean.