An increase in Sino-foreign joint maritime research, particularly in the disputed South China Sea, is helping China improve its regional reputation by contributing to the health and utility of international waterways, analysts say.
China helped Malaysia with atmospheric studies on the high seas last year, among other marine science projects, reports from Malaysia say.
This month and next China will work with the Philippines on exploring an underwater plateau, and Beijing's official Xinhua News Agency said a vessel of Chinese scientists had reached port in Myanmar January 17 for joint oceanographic research.
Analysts say these cases, and others, let China and its partners find valuable marine resources while casting Beijing as a trustworthy steward of shared oceans in Asia.
Since a world arbitration court ruled against the scope of China's claim in mid-2016, Beijing has improved economic ties with other claimants to put the legal dispute behind them.中国增强与其他国家合作进行海洋研究，尤其是在主权有争议的南中国海展开合作。分析人士说，中国的这些活动能帮助改进国际海域的海洋健康，也有助于增进中国在这一地区的声望。
据马来西亚媒体报道，中国去年帮助了马来西亚展开在远海上空的大气层研究和其他海洋科学研究项目。
今年1月和2月，中国将与菲律宾一道探测海底高原。
中国官方的新华社报道，中国一艘科学研究船1月17日抵达缅甸，准备展开一项联合海洋科学研究。
分析人士们说，这些活动一方面让中国和那些伙伴国合作寻找有价值的海洋资源，另一方面又有助于北京为自己树立一个值得信赖的亚太共享海域守卫者的形象。
自从2016年7月一个国际仲裁庭在南中国海问题上做出对中国不利的裁决以来，北京改善了跟其他申索国的经贸关系，好让这些国家不再关注这一法律争执。