【By Observer News, Chen Sijia】Since China released the white paper "China's Arctic Policy" in 2018, some Western countries have continuously hyped up the so-called "China threat," trying to defame China's investments in the Arctic region. A recent report from the Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs at Harvard University states that the Western claims lack factual basis, and China's investments have economic significance; Arctic region countries should make wise decisions.
The South China Morning Post published a comment article on July 16, stating that this report, completed by an international team, shows that Western politicians and commentators have exaggerated China's activities in the Arctic, conflating proposed investments with actual investments. The article points out that over the past few decades, the Arctic region has been neglected by Western countries like the United States, and needs investment development to improve people's living standards. Arctic countries should set aside their prejudices against China.
Researchers from Harvard University and Trent University in Canada analyzed China's economic activities in the Arctic region, including research facilities, infrastructure construction, energy projects, and mining projects. They pointed out that the analysis results show that the Western countries' rhetoric such as "China is buying the Arctic" does not match the facts.
The report takes Greenland as an example. Despite frequent Western hype about China's influence on the island, most of the investments have not yet been realized. Researchers emphasized: "In discussions about China's investments and influence in the Arctic, Greenland has received close attention, but it is clear that much of this anxiety focuses on what might happen rather than what has actually happened."
Guðbjörg Ríkey Th. Hauksdóttir, a participant in the study, said: "The exaggeration of China's investments is used to justify different policies and positions, such as the Trump administration in the United States asserting that Denmark failed to protect Greenland from Chinese influence."
In the Arctic region of North America, the report found that although the United States accepted a large amount of Chinese foreign direct investment, China's investment in Alaska was relatively limited. In the Canadian Arctic region, Chinese investment mainly focused on a nickel mine project in northern Quebec, while other investments were largely stalled.
The report states that among the Arctic region countries, Russia received the most Chinese investment. Both sides have cooperated in oil and gas production and infrastructure, and Russia, which is under Western economic sanctions, sees China as a necessary economic partner. Nordic countries such as Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Iceland have also engaged with China, but cooperation in energy and science has progressed slowly.
On September 14, 2023, the icebreaker "Xuelong 2" left the Arctic region, Visual China
Anders Edstrøm, a visiting researcher at the Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs, believes that many of China's investments are of significant economic importance to the relevant countries. Arctic region countries need to reasonably distinguish the risks and benefits of investment projects. "We are not saying there is no reason to be concerned, but these discussions must be based on reality."
Hauksdóttir said: "When Arctic countries decide how to engage with China, we hope this brief will promote wise decision-making by Arctic countries."
The South China Morning Post's comment article points out that since China announced its Arctic policy, the West seems to be obsessed with hyping up the so-called "China threat." In a 2024 U.S. Department of Defense Arctic strategy document, the United States placed China at the top of the "threat level" for the Arctic region, but this may be to find an excuse to increase the U.S. military budget rather than an objective strategic analysis result.
Barry Zellen, an author of the comment article and a research scholar at the Geography Department of the University of Connecticut, stated that the Arctic region has long been neglected by Western countries, and many local residents have lived in poverty for a long time, facing pressure in health, nutrition, and economic security. Due to long-term exploitation and neglect, the Arctic region's residents are very interested in foreign investment and development.
Zellen, a scholar specializing in Arctic geopolitics and international relations, believes that the long-term strategic neglect of the Arctic by countries like the United States has created investment opportunities for China. China has realistically recognized that investing in the Arctic contains mutual benefits, which can benefit the Arctic region's residents.
He wrote: "It is precisely because the West has failed to effectively develop its remote Arctic territories and overcome its own problematic colonial history that China has had the opportunity to participate in the challenges of Arctic development."
Zellen pointed out that China should not be vilified, but welcomed as an economic partner in the Arctic. "This reflects China's progress and rising international status, and many Western countries have begun to rely on these advances. China's role in Arctic economic activities and regional governance structures is an indispensable part of its status as a global power. As the Harvard University report suggests, it's time to put aside prejudices."
China and Russia have carried out a series of collaborations in the Arctic region. Last July, the "Arctic Express 1" sea-rail intermodal project, jointly operated by Chinese and Russian enterprises, held its launch ceremony at the Belyy Lest logistics center in Moscow Oblast, Russia. This project uses sea-rail intermodal transport to connect Moscow, the capital of Russia, the Arkhangelsk port in Russia, and Chinese ports. Compared to the traditional Suez Canal route, it greatly shortens transportation time and cost.
Last year, China and Russia also established the Arctic Shipping Development Subcommittee. During the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum in June, Rosatom, the Russian state atomic energy corporation, signed an intention agreement with Chinese enterprises to establish a joint venture to build ships and organize container transportation along the Arctic shipping route throughout the year. The first meeting of the subcommittee was held in St. Petersburg in November last year.
However, the United States has repeatedly distorted China-Russia cooperation in the Arctic and has been spreading the "China-Russia threat theory" through Arctic affairs. In July last year, the U.S. Department of Defense released the "2024 Arctic Strategy," claiming that it would expand military capabilities and surveillance activities in the Arctic region.
After Trump took office, Bloomberg reported on February 26 that as part of the U.S. efforts to ease relations with Russia, U.S. officials had identified the Arctic issue as a potential area of cooperation. However, sources revealed that due to the increasingly close relationship between Russia and China in recent years, it is expected that Trump's approach is unlikely to succeed, and U.S. officials hope to use the issue of U.S.-Russia Arctic cooperation to undermine the China-Russia relationship.
Previously, Gao Jia Kun, a spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry, stated that China is an important stakeholder in Arctic affairs. China has always participated in Arctic affairs following the basic principles of respect, cooperation, win-win, and sustainability, and has strengthened cooperation with all parties to maintain peace, stability, and sustainable development in the Arctic.
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