The New Geopolitics of the Arctic: Russia’s and China’s Evolving Role in the Arctic Paper Review
01/06/2020
Wang Ruoxuan
Paper Review
Article information:
Title: The New Geopolitics of the Arctic: Russia’s and China’s Evolving Role in the Arctic.
Author: Stephanie Pezard
Publish: by the RAND Corporation, Santa Monica, Calif.
Date: November 26, 2018
Language: English
Review:
The article can be mainly divided into 2 parts. The first part touches Russia’s Relations with Other Arctic Nations. The second part about China’s interest on Arctic and how other countries treat China’s involvement.
The author provides with reasons of Russia exploring the Arctic, which are almost aware by every researcher. Stephanie Pezard also thought Russia’s intentions are not benign. From Canada’s viewpoint, the main sources of tension with Russia would be potential confrontation with NATO.
China has remained within the boundaries of existing treaties and principles regulating Arctic affairs. Author thought that, it is not excluded China has political or military objectives in its economic activities in the Arctic, especially in Greenland and Denmark. So far, Arctic nations have cautiously welcomed China’s willingness to play a larger role in the Arctic, including Russia on Yamal LNG project. While Russia and China are formally allies through the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, Russia remains wary of China’s military power on its southern border and, as an Arctic nation, is irritated by the intrusion in Arctic affairs of non-Arctic states.
Finally, the author concludes that the prominent role of Arctic shipping and economics will bring great challenges to sovereignty and interests in Canada and other Arctic regions.
