From: ChinaDialog/Ocean
From: ChinaDialog/Ocean
Marcy Trent Long, Sam Colombie
As rising global temperatures melt the polar sea ice, new routes and opportunities are opening up in the Arctic. China is keen to position itself as a stakeholder, recently declaring itself a “near-Arctic” state and last year publishing an official Arctic policy. But unlike Antarctica, the North Pole is ringed by sovereign lands and their territorial waters, all jostling for control over the frozen international waters. While China’s arrival has raised concerns, the investment it’s bringing is not unwelcome. So how is China going about establishing itself in the Arctic, and what are its ultimate goals?