Melting Ice, Rising Interests: Assessing China’s Arctic Ambitions and their Geopolitical Impacts.

Abstract

This paper identifies the People’s Republic of China’s (PRC) objectives and goals in the Arctic Region. The paper examines China’s interests in the Arctic, particularly relating to Arctic governance, science, and hydrocarbon and mineral extraction. The PRC’s relationship with Russia is also examined. The PRC’s “near-Arctic state” status and Arctic White Paper have made China an ambitious Arctic player. This paper makes it clear that, in order to succeed, China should focus its efforts on areas with the greatest potential for growth, such as Arctic science, resource extraction, and strengthening bilateral ties with the Arctic states other than Russia. The paper concludes by arguing that China’s most viable future path as an Arctic player requires it to acknowledge that it is better to complement the existing system (e.g. Arctic Council and the Arctic Eight) with its current observer status rather than to try to be viewed as an equal and legitimate Arctic state.