China reveals Arctic ambitions with plan for ‘Polar Silk Road’
New paper underscores Beijing’s growing geopolitical ambitions in resource-rich region
RT.com
edited by kcontents
Beijing has outlined plans for a “Polar Silk Road” in the Arctic, setting off what experts say is a slow-motion race for control of the region as climate change allows for the expansion of shipping routes across the top of the world.
China, which does not border the Arctic but is one of 13 countries holding observer status with the Arctic Council, an intergovernmental body, released a white paper on Friday calling for greater international co-operation over infrastructure and shipping routes in the region.
The publication of the paper underscores China’s growing geopolitical ambition in a region largely regarded as a last frontier for exploration. Its desire to become a significant player in the Arctic has largely emerged only in the past few years under the leadership of President Xi Jinping, who first referred to China as an upcoming “polar-region power” during a 2014 state visit in Australia.
https://www.ft.com/content/c7bd5258-0293-11e8-9650-9c0ad2d7c5b5
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