China’s emerging Arctic strategy

Abstract

As the melting of the Arctic ice accelerates, China is wasting no time in reshaping its Arctic policies with more resources devoted to Arctic research and politics. Despite China’s open statement of not having a strategic agenda regarding the melting Arctic, it is increasingly evident that the rising power, through shrewd diplomacy, generous investment packages, frequent expeditions and enhanced polar research capacities, is devoting more national resources in a coherent way to securing its long-term geopolitical influence and economic interest in the Arctic. Due to its limited impact upon the current Arctic affairs, China has to adopt a low-profile tactic through avoiding confrontation from major littoral states, in accordance with basic principles that guide virtually every relevant aspect of its national grand strategy in the post-cold war era. Since China’s emerging Arctic strategy is a component of its maritime strategy, which itself is part of the country’s grand strategy, there is no wonder that its Arctic strategy and grand strategy are analogical in terms of guidelines and ultimate goals to be achieved.