Beijing’s controversial development projects in the South China Sea are aimed at improving weather forecasts, prominent Chinese scientists have said, according to a news report today.

The explanations by two scientists in the state-run People’s Daily came ahead of a key US-China meeting in which territorial disputes are likely to feature, the South China Morning Post reported.

The work is being done to enhance “marine meterological monitoring, warning, forecasting, prediction and scientific research,” Ding Yihui of the Chinese Academy of Engineering said, according to the report.

The region is “suffering from frequent oceanic disasters and extreme weather and climate events,” Ding was quoted saying.

China has a responsibility to help the region address disasters like typhoons and to safeguard fishing vessels and other boats, said Zheng Guoguang, head of the China Meterological Administration, in a separate interview in the People’s Daily .

- dpa