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As per South China Morning Post (SCMP), the total figure and the 287,000 extracted on one single day would both constitute world records. The gas was extracted from a northerly section of the waterway at a depth of about 1,225m from February 17 to March 18. Beijing’s Ministry of Natural Resources described the trial as a “solid technical foundation for commercial exploitation”.

They added China was the first country in the world to extract gas using a horizontal well-drilling technique. Gas hydrates are also known as flammable ice. When extracted, it is believed one cubic metre of gas hydrates releases 164 cubic metres of natural gas. That ratio would put China’s figure at 141,269,600‬ cubic metres.



China has extracted gas from the South China Sea, stock images

Protestors in the Philippines against China's actions in the sea

The test comes as global oil and gas price plunge. China, the world’s largest exporter of both, has sought alternative sources for economic security. Addressing SCMP Yang Fuqiang, a senior energy adviser at the National Resources Defence Council, said: “The demand for natural gas is large and the prospect is promising, but it’s hard to say when China will have commercial development of flammable ice.” Beijing has set a target for 10 percent of the annual energy consumption to be from natural gas by the end of 2020. READ MORE: South China Sea: The US-China aircraft flashpoint amid Philippines row

The USS Marines are developing a new South China Sea plan, stock

Japan was the first nation to successfull extract flammable ice

Xi Jinping is Chinese President

It is hoped the move would make it easier for the Navy to navigate around the island chains. Drones and mobile anti-ship guns are understood to be part of the plans. They are believed to have designed specifically to combat China’s People’s Liberation Army.

South China Sea mapped

Li Jie, a Beijing based naval expert, explained: “Such a plan will help the Marines to meet the new requirements of modern battles involved in multi-domain [in the air, ground, maritime, space and cyberspace] in both competition and armed conflict, which will definitely cause great threats to Chinese navy and air force.” Commandant General David Berger told the Wall Street Journal: “China, in terms of military capability, is the pacing threat. “If we did nothing, we would be passed.”

Philippine marines observe a Chinese vessell

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