The Guardian: Trump's policies in Greenland may boost China's influence
A report published by The Guardian states that China has long sought to establish a foothold in Greenland, but the unified stance of the United States and Denmark has hindered this goal. However, Trump's disruption of this alliance could create opportunities for Beijing.
He emphasized that China views Greenland as a strategic opportunity, but not in the way President Donald Trump envisions. Trump argues that his actions are preemptive measures aimed at preventing countries like Russia from "occupying" Greenland and linking the issue to global security to prevent U.S. rivals from expanding their influence in the Arctic.
On the other hand, the report continues, Beijing does not see Greenland as a direct target, but it is closely watching Trump's actions, intending to seize the opportunities created by his policies, especially those that weaken the U.S.-Europe alliance and pave the way for China to expand its influence.
Opportunities to Build New Alliances
He pointed out that over the past decade, Beijing has been working to strengthen its economic influence in Greenland, with investments in Greenland accounting for more than 11% of the Arctic island's GDP between 2012 and 2017.
The report states that Greenland has expressed a desire to attract Chinese investment to help develop its mineral resources, but Denmark, which controls the island's security and foreign affairs, has blocked the plan due to pressure from the U.S. and concerns from other NATO allies.
Patrik Andersson from the Sweden China National Centre said, "Since Donald Trump's first term, Chinese companies in Greenland have faced pressure from the U.S. and Denmark, and now China's involvement in Greenland is very limited."
The report says that Trump's policies have not hindered Beijing's ambitions, but instead may create a more favorable economic environment for Beijing by dismantling the close alliance between Copenhagen and Washington.
The Guardian quotes Andrew Small, director of the Asia program at the European Council on Foreign Relations, who said, "Chinese strategists have long believed that Washington's international alliance network is one of its main advantages over Beijing."
He added that these experts "believe this network could be used against them, which is a major threat. Therefore, the collapse of the U.S. alliance is beneficial for China."
A Broader Perspective
The report explains that China's interest in the Arctic is mainly related to shipping, trade, and scientific research, rather than territorial control. For years, Beijing has been working to include the region in its broader "Belt and Road Initiative," known as the "Polar Silk Road."
The report states that the "Polar Silk Road" aims to use new sea routes formed by glacial melting to provide shorter routes for cargo transportation between Asia and Europe compared to traditional Suez Canal routes.
In this context, the most notable route is the "Northern Sea Route," which runs along the Russian coastline into the Arctic Ocean. According to The Guardian, this route can cut the travel time between Chinese and European ports by nearly half in certain cases, reduce fuel costs, and minimize risks associated with congestion or tensions on southern routes.
According to Amy Hawkins, the newspaper's reporter in China, China has made actual progress on this route, with a Chinese container ship reaching Europe through this route in record time.
The report (Getty) shows that China's interest in the Arctic is mainly related to shipping, trade, and scientific research.
The report points out that Greenland's importance in this equation is growing, as it could serve as a potential location for logistics support, scientific research, and maritime traffic monitoring, rather than a military target.
He concluded that China does not seek to redraw the political map of the Arctic, but is more likely to take advantage of the new realities created by Trump's policies and adjust its oceanic and trade plans according to existing opportunities to expand its economic influence in the region.
Source: The Guardian
Original: toutiao.com/article/1854947947246596/
Statement: This article represents the views of the author.