I believe the U.S. has not taken claim to own Antartica though they reserve the right to do so.
My old Atlas shows Antartica as sliced up like pieces of cake.
Showing -Australia, Norway, Britain, France, USA, Russia, as having large slices.
But I believe any country can set up a 'permanent scientific' base, if they wish?
Regarding latest Chinese mission to the Moon
China plans to send an unmanned ship to orbit the moon this year
An unmanned mission to land on the moon is next
A manned lunar voyage is planned for some time after 2017
Scientists in Shanghai are developing a nuclear-powered lunar rover for the country's first unmanned mission to the moon in 2012.
The six-wheeled vehicle has been under development for four years at the Shanghai Aerospace System Engineering Institute, where a laboratory has been outfitted to replicate the lunar surface. The 1.5-metre-high, 200-kilogram rover is designed to transmit video in real time, dig for and analyze soil samples and produce three dimensional images of the lunar surface.
With an average speed of 100 metres per hour, it can negotiate inclines and has automatic sensors to prevent it from crashing into other objects. Researchers were still refining its ability to handle low gravity, exposure to cosmic rays and temperature extremes and plan to build an even more sophisticated laboratory to mimic those conditions.
No figures were given for the cost of the rover program and the institute is not accepting media interviews.
Shanghai Daily report. Re-reported by (Canadian) cbc.ca ....on April 2 '07
Mike Kremer.