"In August 2009 the People's Republic of China (PRC) began sea trials with its newly constructed Harmony 7000 three-person submersible. Capable of diving to 23,000 feet (7,000 meters), it is the world's deepest-diving manned vehicle. This development marks another step forward for China's emerging undersea technology programs. Beginning in the late 1990s, it developed 20,000-feet capable (6,000-meters) remotely operated and autonomous underwater vehicles with significant assistance provided by Russia, Canada and the United States."