China's Arctic turn: Reasons, developments, perspectives

Michael Paul

No 8/2025, SWP Comments from Stiftung Wissenschaft und Politik (SWP), German Institute for International and Security Affairs

Abstract: Apart from several infrastructure projects which ultimately failed, and a surprise visit by the icebreaker Xuelong off the Greenlandic capital, Nuuk, the People's Republic of China has long maintained a cautious and reserved presence in the Arctic in the shadow of Russia and its fleet of icebreakers. But in July and August 2024, three icebreakers - Xuelong 2, Ji Di and Zhong Shan Da Xue Ji Di - made China's growing presence felt in the Arctic for the first time ever. Beijing is thus signalling more ambitious intentions, and the construction of a heavy icebreaker could enable China to establish a permanent presence in the Arctic Ocean. This development reached a peculiar climax in October 2024, when the Russian state news agency RIA Novosti ran the headline: "The Arctic is becoming Chinese." What are the reasons and implications of China's Arctic turn?

Keywords: China; Russia; United States; USA; Arctic; Arctiv Council; polar power; Northern Sea Route; NSR; Belt and Road Initiative; shadow fleet; Bering Street; Murmansk-Memorandum; ICE Pact (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-cis and nep-cna
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:zbw:swpcom:315534

DOI: 10.18449/2025C08

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