Chinese teams begin study of sunken Ming-era ships found in South China Sea
South China Morning Post
23-05-22 06:00
Two ancient merchant ships that were recently discovered in the South China Sea are being mapped and researched by the Chinese government. The shipwrecks are from the late 15th and early 16th century periods during China's Ming Dynasty and were both laden with cargo. Researchers expect that the discovery will bolster China's status as a maritime power and build the case for their territorial claims in the South China Sea, which are contested by the Philippines, Malaysia, Vietnam and Brunei. The discovery may also hold clues for Chinese traders participating in the Belt and Road Initiative.