Abstract
In 2018, China released the much-expected White Paper and its Arctic policy in the region. China foresees the economic opportunities and realizes the territorial challenges as it seeks an active role in the Arctic opening. The White Paper outlines China’s aspirations and strategies to develop the Polar Silk Road across the Arctic Ocean. As a non-Arctic state and without a claim of territory, China will likely have to rely on cooperation and invitation of Arctic states so as to advance its interests in that area. This policy brief outlines China’s interests in the region as well as the socio-economic and environmental challenges that will be called to manage. Moreover, it examines the probability to be declared a greater Arctic player through the emergence of the Polar Silk Road and possible shifts in the current status quo and the balance of power in the region. Thus, taking all these into account it briefly suggests four possible measures.
Highlights
China’ s rise and the world’ s shift to a multipolar system have contributed to China’ s growth as a major player in the Arctic, becoming an important “Arctic stakeholder” and playing a significant part, as a polar power, among global giants
Not to mention that the abundance of economic and natural resources in polar regions enables China to alleviate its energy security problems and utilize its “near arctic state” position to stake out the exploration and exploitation of natural resources, such as Arctic’ s natural gas and oil reserves (Eiterjord, 2019)
▪ a new international regime for the Arctic governance and generally governance mechanisms is recommended, which will promote peace and stability, address security issues, and supervise international waters, as the Arctic Council is restricted from moderating such issues
Summary
China’ s rise and the world’ s shift to a multipolar system have contributed to China’ s growth as a major player in the Arctic, becoming an important “Arctic stakeholder” and playing a significant part, as a polar power, among global giants. It’s an indisputable fact that China’s strong interest and the opportunities offered in the region stem from the urgent need for traditional and non-traditional security, technological and science research, as well as natural and economic resources. By using Polar Silk Road (PSR), China can secure free transportation through the Arctic route and avoid passing through the sea-lanes of Malacca Strait, the Panama Canal, or the Somalian Coast, which may have a negative effect on either security or economic issues. Not to mention that the abundance of economic and natural resources in polar regions enables China to alleviate its energy security problems and utilize its “near arctic state” position to stake out the exploration and exploitation of natural resources, such as Arctic’ s natural gas and oil reserves (Eiterjord, 2019).
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