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Global warming in recent years has increased the melting of ice globally. As with the increase in population and industrial activities, the emission of greenhouse gases has also climbed.
Consequently, global warming is happening that affects the whole globe including the Arctic Ocean. The ice has started melting in the Arctic Ocean due to climate change. These climate changes have significantly contributed to the growing interests of the states in the Arctic transport routes like China. China has an imperative interest in the Northern Sea route. According to some analysts, the Northern Sea route will be ice-free by 2050, due to rising temperatures, which received utmost attention from China and Russia. China has no border with the Arctic Ocean but according to international law, a state can operate scientific research across the Oceans. China is near to Arctic, one of the continental states that are closest to the Arctic Circle because any issue related to climate has diverse impacts on China.
China is planning to build a “polar Silk Road” that connects China with the West through the Northern Sea route. China announced after releasing a white paper on Arctic strategy in 2018 that it will make the Arctic Ocean as a part of BRI, to establish a polar Silk Road. According to the White Paper, China aims to protect, develop, and participate in the Arctic Council. However, China is not a permanent member of the Arctic Council but became an observer in 2013. Another goal of China’s arctic strategy is to build a Polar Silk Road on the North that connects Europe and Asia. This is the extension of the BRI project to the Arctic by constructing roads, ports, and other infrastructure activities. Hence, it is important to highlight that 90 % of China’s trading is conducted through maritime routes. According to China’s state Oceanic administration, the 21st century is the “century of Oceans”, recognizing the importance of Oceans for the Chinese.
Currently, China is conducting its maritime trade through traditional routes such as Malacca and Suez Canal. Due to high strains and inconsistence circumstances in the region, China is searching for an alternative trade route to transport its goods to Europe. The Chinese strategic makers are dredging to diversify their oil and gas transport route to dismantle the high strategic vulnerability of the so-called Malacca Dilemma. The term Malacca Dilemma was coined by then-Chinese president Hu Jintao in 2003 due to the high vulnerability of the strait to pirates and terrorist activities. The Northern Sea route provides a safe and reliable trade route and is also time-consuming to the Chinese, in contrast to the conventional route of the Suez Canal. The Northern Sea route will link the Chinese province of Dalian to Rotterdam of Netherlands through the Bering Sea of Russia, by consuming time as well as inexpensive route for trade.
Following the Western sanctions imposed on Russia due to the Ukraine crisis back in 2014, Moscow and Beijing boomed cooperation and became closer strategic allies. China also has strengthened its relations with other Arctic states such as Iceland and Greenland. To expand its influence and physical presence in the region, China requires a long-term partner in the region. China preferred Russia for cooperation and strategic alliances in the Arctic region as Russia geographical close and opponent of the west. Therefore, in 2014, China started to invest in the Yamal project, located in the Yamal Peninsula in Russia. The project is for liquefied natural gas, with a capacity of 25 billion cubic meters of natural gas annually. In 2016, the Chinese bank invested 12 billion US dollars in the project to further collaborate with the Russian government. China dreams to bolster strategic collaboration with Russia because of Russia high relevancy in Arctic council state and the Yamal Project is considered the initial project of the Polar Silk Road.
The growing influence of the China in the Arctic is showing the importance of Ocean to Beijing, as China is emerging as a global power to counter US influence. However, the closest China is only 900 miles away from the Arctic Circle but China trying hard to strengthen relations with Arctic states. Despite Russia, other Arctic states are in alliance with the United States, by providing security to them such as Finland, Sweden, and Iceland, as member states of NATO. Moreover, China has also established two research stations in the Arctic, one in Norway’s Svalbard archipelago and the other one in Iceland. However, other states like the US have serious concerns about China’s presence in the Arctic region. In fact, China seeks to deepen its strategic partnership with Russia to access the Arctic region and establish a shorter route for trade into Europe.
The significance of the Arctic region on a global level became driven by its geopolitical, strategic, and geo-economics importance. The melting of ice due to climate change encourages nations to contemplate uncovering untapped abundant resources in the region. China particularly, emerged as a key player and became a permanent observer of the Arctic Council. China plans to initiate the polar Silk Road to link Asia with Europe. Furthermore, China seeks to access the abundant natural resources such as gas, oil, and minerals of the Arctic Ocean. Additionally, increased temperature and melting of ice are opening navigational routes for trade and shipping that will secure the economic interests of China in the region. The China Belt and Road Initiative, a massive infrastructure project for trade, is closely linked with the Arctic ambitions of China. China seeks to extend its BRI to Arctic by establishing Polar Silk road to shorter the distance for its trade between Europe and Asia. Beijing reported that China will participate in pragmatic cooperation on the Arctic and building of Polar Silk road in the Arctic Ocean.
In addition, the involvement of China in Arctic affairs reflects the broader ambitions of the state as a global leader. China’s Arctic ambition is linked with the geopolitical strategy of China which seeks to balance with existing international order. China Polar Silk Road is not only for commerce, but it shows the expansion and power projection capabilities of emerging power in the new strategic domains like the Arctic. This expansion of China has raised concerns for the traditional Arctic powers, who view China as a potential challenge to their interests and sovereignty in the Arctic. In 2019, European Union officially recognizes China as a strategic rival. The United States pushed the Denmark to reject the offer of China to help in building an airport in the Greenland and promise with Denmark that US will invest to build an airport in Greenland. Denmark also obviates China from purchasing an ancient military installation in Greenland in 2016. China consistently working on to grouping with European states to strengthen its relationship with especially with Arctic states. Therefore, as the Arctic region transforms, the world is closely observing the actions and ambitions of China and how these ambitions will shape the future of the Arctic region.
Great insights into the geopolitical implications of China’s presence in the Arctic! However, it might be beneficial to include perspectives from Arctic indigenous communities to understand how these ambitions affect them directly.