China’s emerging Arctic policy: What are the implications for Arctic governance?

Abstract

This article examines China’s Arctic policy and its possible implications for Arctic governance. The paper first explains why China needs an Arctic policy and how this policy came into being. The article then sheds light on the content of China’s Arctic policy. The paper concludes that though it intends to play a more active role in Arctic governance, China is likely to be a collaborative rather than a challenging partner. This is evidenced by China’s behavior in the development of the Polar Code within the International Maritime Organization and the negotiations on regulating fisheries in the high seas portions of the central Arctic Ocean.