China Comes to the Arctic!
On May 1, an article was published in Russia's "China Today".
With the increase of global warming, China's interest in the Arctic is growing.
In particular, if the melting of polar ice will make the Northern Sea Route navigable all year round, it can become a more economical alternative to the Suez Canal, reducing the transit time for goods by 9 days.
According to forecasts, the first ice-free summer may appear in the Arctic Ocean in 2030. By 2050, it will become one of the most efficient routes for cargo transportation between Asia and Europe.
In addition, the Arctic has abundant natural resources, including oil, natural gas, minerals, and fish. It is estimated that the unexplored hydrocarbon reserves account for 25% of the world's total.
All of this has attracted China.
After more than ten years of efforts, China has achieved great success in this area. Today, China manages several research stations in the region and supplements its fleet with two icebreakers.
As early as 2013, China obtained observer status in the Arctic Council and signed several agreements with Arctic countries on joint research and commercial projects in the Arctic Ocean.
In July 2023, the regular China-Russia corridor of the Arctic sea route was officially launched, significantly reducing the distance and time required to transport goods from Russia's north to China.
By the end of the year, at least 80 ships, including cargo ships, cruise liners, and tankers, had reached Chinese ports via Arctic waterways.
Original Article: https://www.toutiao.com/article/1830875455874057/
Disclaimer: The article represents the views of the author only.