China plans for ‘Polar Silk Road’ that goes through Canada’s north
China has finally unveiled its official Arctic strategy, and it includes a promise to build a “Polar Silk Road” on Canada’s northernmost fringes.
“It is interesting they put out something official … China’s strategy since 2008 was to remain low- key and avoid triggering the inevitable alarmism,” said Heather Exner- Pirot, managing editor of the Arctic Yearbook.
The document, published in English by Chinese state media, declares China a “near- Arctic state” and lays out the country’s ambitions to become a major shipping power through an ice- free Arctic. “China attaches great importance to navigation security in the Arctic shipping routes,” it reads.
The policy is coming out amidst a massive Chinese push to establish what has been called a “New Silk Road.” Officially dubbed the Belt and Road Initiative, it is China’s plan to open up new trade corridors with a flurry of new ports, roads, rail links and agreements.
With China promising spending in excess of $1 tril- lion, it could be one of the largest economic undertakings in human history.
Like China, non- Arctic nations such as Japan, Germany, the U. K. and France have released official Arctic policies.
However, China’s policy is notable for its apparent overtures to woo liberal Arctic powers such as Norway, Canada and the United States. The document makes repeated references to sustainability, Indigenous rights, wildlife protections and the respect of international law. China’s presence in the Arctic will realize “harmonious coexistence between man and nature,” it reads.
And e ven with l arge chunks of the resource- rich Arctic sea floor still technically up for grabs, the document is careful to note that China has no territorial claims on the area’s oil, gas or mineral resources.
“‘ Respect’ is the key basis for China’s participation in Arctic affairs. Respect should be reciprocal,” it reads.
Joël Plouffe, a fellow at the Canadian Global Affairs Institute, said the document is heavy on politeness because it is attempting to frame China as a responsible player in a region where it has no actual sovereignty. However, with the paper short on specifics, he added that it is “more intentions and hopes than an actual strategy.”
China has been gradually attempting to get a toehold in the Arctic since at least the 1990s.
The country is increasingly a presence at Arctic diplomatic gatherings. Since 2013, China has had observer status at the Arctic Council, an intergovernmental organization that brokers polar agreements. In November, China was a key non- arctic signatory to an agreement to prevent commercial fishing in Arctic international waters.
Despite a notable deficit of icy ports, China also keeps adding to its polar fleet. In 2016, the Chinese navy commissioned the first of a new series of ice- capable patrol boats.
China also has Xuelong, a heavy icebreaker used for research purposes. Next year, a Shanghai shipyard will launch Xuelong-2.
Last summer, Xuelong became the first official Chinese vessel to traverse Canada’s Northwest Passage. Notably, the Chinese government asked Canada’s permission before undertaking the journey. This is in sharp contrast to the United States, which asserts that the Northwest Passage is an international strait that can be crossed at will without calling Ottawa for permission.
Nevertheless, China’s new Arctic policy stressed the importance of freedom of navigation, a potential sign that it is warming to the U. S. view that Canada does not have unilateral control of the Northwest Passage.
“We will have to see,” said Plouffe.