China syndromeChina races to claim Arctic resources
As temperatures around the world continue to rise and the ice in the Arctic Ocean melts, the once frozen seas are increasingly open for exploration and countries have been scrambling to claim the region’s vast resources; several countries including Canada, the United States, and Russia have all sought to expand their territorial claims over the region and now new countries like China are pushing in; Chinese researchers recently sailed to within 120 nautical miles of the North Pole; only a few years prior, this trip would have been impossible due to the thick ice in the ocean that can be more than 30 feet thick; scientists estimate that during the summer months, the Arctic Ocean could be ice-free by as early as 2013 or as late as 2060
Joining the race for Arctic resources // Source: peopledaily.com.cn
As temperatures around the world continue to rise and the ice in the Arctic Ocean melts, the once frozen seas are increasingly open for exploration and countries have been scrambling to claim the region’s vast resources.
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) estimates that 25 percent of the world’s undiscovered hydrocarbon resources are located in the Arctic in addition to ninety billion barrels of oil and 1,670 trillion cubic feet of natural gas. Several countries including Canada, the United States, and Russia have all sought to expand their territorial claims over the region. In 2007 Russia planted an underwater flag 14,000 feet directly below the North Pole, while the United States and Canada are seeking to resolve boundary disputes along with Russia and Norway.
In the past, analysts believed that dominance of the Arctic would ultimately come down to which nation had the best physical resources to navigate the icy seas.
John Pike, the director of GlobalSecurity.org, in an interview with CNN in 2009, said he believed that the Russians with their superior fleet of icebreakers would be best suited to control the Arctic Ocean.
Pike explained, “Building a ship to operate in a foot of ice is no big deal. Building an icebreaker that can get through two yards of ice, now you’re talking serious icebreaking. The Russians can get through 2 yards of ice without breaking a sweat.”
He added, “The Russians have got a half-dozen icebreakers. Americans have a pair of icebreakers, but they are old and worn out.”
As the ice continues to melt, countriesthat lack a large icebreaker fleet like China have been able to venture further into the territory.
Last year, Chinese researchers sailed to within 120 nautical miles of the North Pole on the world’s largest non-nuclear research icebreaker, the Xue Long (Snow Dragon).This was the ship’s fourth voyage to the region in recent years.
Only a few years prior, this trip would have been impossible for a light icebreaker like the Xue Longdue to the thick ice in the ocean that can be more than 30 feet thick.
Scientists estimate that during the summer months, the Arctic Ocean could be ice-free by as early as 2013 or as late as 2060.
The U.S. Navy’s oceanographer and navigator Rear Admiral David Titley, stated at an Arctic Conference earlier this year that, “We believe that sometime between 2035 and 2040, there is a pretty good chance that the Arctic Ocean will be essentially ice-free for about a month.”
While much of China’s foreign policy plans are shrouded in secrecy, analysts believe that these recent trips to the Arctic are part of a concerted effort to secure more resources to satisfyChina’s ravenous appetite for energy.
As evidence, experts point to comments made by Rear Admiral Yin Zhin on 5 March 2010before the 11ththe Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC)where he urged China to stay abreast of other nations in Arctic explorations.
He said, “The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea [UNCLOS], known as the Law of the Sea Convention], the North Pole and surrounding area are the common wealth of the world’s people and do not belong to any one country.”
He continued, “China must play an indispensable role in Arctic exploration as we have one-fifth of the world’s population.”
China’s assistant minister of foreign affairs Hu Zhengyue denies that China has a long-term interest in the region stating, “China does not have an Arctic strategy.”
In a move contrary to this statement, China recently became the first Asian country to seek observer status with the Arctic Council.
The Artic Council is an international forum for nations designed to promote “cooperation, coordination interaction amongst Arctic states.” Its members include Russia, Canada, the United States, Norway, and Finland.
Last year the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) released a report titled “China Prepares for an Ice-Free Arctic.”
After interviews with many Chinese officials, the report concluded “Chinese officials have also started to think about what kind of policies would help China benefit from an ice-free Arctic environment … Despite its seemingly weak position, China can be expected to seek a role in determining the political framework and legal foundation for future Arctic Activities.”
While experts cannot concretely point to a Chinese Arctic strategy, given the region’s vast resources and China’s continued explorations of the area it is clear that the other nations will increasingly have to contend with Chinese interests in the Arctic.
