In 3 years, China will have world’s first floating artificial island that 'can survive nuclear attack' 

China is developing a massive floating research platform engineered to survive nuclear shock waves, a project that analysts say could reshape competition for maritime influence.

The Deep-Sea All-Weather Resident Floating Research Facility, officially classified as a national major scientific infrastructure project under China’s 14th Five-Year Plan, will be the world’s first mobile, self-sustaining artificial island, reports scmp.com.

The structure, weighing 78,000 tonnes, uses a semi-submersible twin-hull design and will support long-duration missions far from shore.

According to Shanghai Jiao Tong University (SJTU), which leads the design, the platform will measure 138 metres long and 85 metres wide, with a main deck rising 45 metres above the waterline. It will accommodate up to 238 personnel for four months without resupply and operate at speeds of up to 15 knots. The vessel can function in rough conditions up to sea state 7 and withstand typhoons rated as high as category 17.

Despite its civilian label, the platform incorporates nuclear-blast-resistant construction normally found in military systems. A paper published on November 4 in the Chinese Journal of Ship Research by Professor Yang Deqing’s team at SJTU confirms that parts of the superstructure follow GJB 1060.1-1991, a Chinese military standard for nuclear shock protection. These protected compartments house crucial emergency systems for power, navigation and communication.

To meet these requirements without resorting to heavy steel armour, researchers developed a metamaterial “sandwich bulkhead” made from a lattice of corrugated tubes with a negative Poisson’s ratio. This structure compresses uniformly under pressure, converting the sharp impulse of a nuclear shock wave into a slower, controlled deformation. Computer models show the 60-mm-thick panel absorbs energy more efficiently than thicker steel plates, cutting peak stress by over 14 per cent and reducing displacement by more than half.

Planners expect the platform to enter service in 2028. Its mobility and long endurance could give China an adaptable presence in remote or disputed waters, including the South China Sea. While Beijing describes it as a scientific research base for ocean observation, equipment testing and deep-sea resource studies, observers note its potential value as a resilient command post, logistics hub or surveillance node.

The project also reflects China’s broader ambitions in the “blue economy,” from seabed mining and marine renewable energy to climate science. A mobile, self-sustaining research island, supporters say, offers a less controversial alternative to permanent land reclamation while extending China’s reach into strategically important waters.

Key points

World’s first floating artificial island:

China is building a 78,000-tonne, semi-submersible research platform capable of long-term, all-weather residency at sea.

Nuclear-blast-resistant design:

The platform includes compartments protected against nuclear shock waves using advanced metamaterial “sandwich bulkheads” instead of heavy steel armour.

Military-grade standards in a civilian project:

Designers reference GJB 1060.1-1991, a Chinese military specification for nuclear blast protection, indicating built-in dual-use potential.

High endurance and capacity:

It can house 238 personnel for up to 120 days without resupply and cruise at 15 knots, giving it persistence comparable to major naval vessels.

Extreme weather capability:

The twin-hull structure can operate in sea state 7 and withstand category-17 typhoons, the highest-rated tropical cyclones.

Advanced energy-absorbing material:

A negative Poisson’s ratio corrugated-tube panel (60 mm thick) converts nuclear shock spikes into a slower “quasi-static” load, reducing structural stress and displacement significantly.

58.5% reduction in displacement

14.25% reduction in peak stress

Lighter and more compact than conventional armour

Strategic mobility:

As a movable platform, it can maintain a presence in contested waters—such as the South China Sea—while avoiding the diplomatic issues of permanent artificial islands.

Potential dual-use roles:

Aside from research, it could function as a command node, logistics hub or surveillance platform.

Timeline:

Construction is targeting operational status by 2028.

Broader goals:

Supports China’s ambitions in the blue economy, including deep-sea resource extraction, marine tech development and climate research.