China's Arctic Policy and Polar Silk Road

In recent circumstances of world climate change, Arctic zone has become of great interest for those countries actively involved in its development. With the constant climate warming, deglaciation and increasing of sea-level, commercial transport ways through the Arctic Ocean become a possible economic solution for large exporting countries. Due to importance of north passage for China, Beijing proclaimed itself as a "near-circle State" to get advantages from the development of Northern Sea Route (NSR) that can provide direct access to the Arctic zone and its natural resources. Considering this, China has recently published its White Paper on Arctic Policy, where it announces "Ice Silk Road" to be the official Arctic strategy of China. This article underlines the major intentions and interests of China in its Arctic strategy. One of China's intentions is an enhancement of the Northern Sea Route, that still raises concerns from the specialists whether it can be applicable part of Arctic strategy of China. This article approves that according to Ice Silk Road's connotation Russia should play an indispensable role in China's advancement to the Arctic zone through NSR. Moreover, the author investigates the influence of "Ice Silk Road" on Sino-Russian relations. Both China and Russia appear to prioritize this strategy to ameliorate economic situation and infrastructure in less-developed regions of two countries. Though, economic development of Arctic coastal cities is one of the priorities of the Russian Federation, it remains to be attentive to the involvement of China in the development of the region, mainly out of fear that it will influence its legal position in the Arctic region. Meanwhile, it stays important that two governments come to a consensus concerning the legislative basis of NSR usage and have a deep assessment of advantages and disadvantages that come out as a result of their partnership.

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Opportunities and Challenges of Jointly Building of the Polar Silk Road: China’s Perspective

Outlines of global transformations politics economics law ◽

10.23932/2542-0240-2019-12-5-130-144 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 12 (5) ◽

pp. 130-144

Author(s):

Yang Jian ◽

Zhao Long

Keyword(s):

Scientific Research ◽

Silk Road ◽

Green Technology ◽

The Arctic ◽

International Governance ◽

National Interests ◽

Knowledge Accumulation ◽

Guiding Principle ◽

Arctic Policy ◽

Political Economic

Dramatic changes, mainly caused by global warming and globalization in recent decades, have been evident in the Arctic. The peace and stability of the Arctic, scientific research in the region, potential business opportunities and international governance have sparked widespread attention and debates around the globe. The joint establishment of the Polar Silk Road (PSR) is tantamount to international cooperation initiative between Russia, China and the related Arctic countries, which is intended to achieve common development and joint governance of the Arctic through knowledge accumulation, helps to promote interconnectivity and sustainable development in the region. As a part of China’s Arctic policy and cooperation between Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) and the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), China focuses on the coordination of national interests and strategies of relevant states regarding development of Arctic sea routes and infrastructure, prioritizes knowledge accumulation and scientific research as the guiding principle for cooperation, promotes green technology solutions and humanistic concerns, and recognizes the PSR cooperation as a new growth pole for China-Russia pragmatic cooperation. However, due to fragile natural environment and political, economic and social sensitivities of the Arctic, significant interference of global and regional geopolitics, potential challenges of global environmental politics, Acknowledgement and capacity gaps between participants, economic and technological uncertainties are major challenges for feasibility and efficiency of cooperation, requiring more in-depth scientific research, comprehensive assessments and regular coordination and communication between all stakeholders.

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The Polar Silk Road: China’s New Frontier of International Cooperation

China Quarterly of International Strategic Studies ◽

10.1142/s2377740018500215 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 04 (03) ◽

pp. 345-362 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Henry Tillman ◽

Jian Yang ◽

Egill Thor Nielsson

Keyword(s):

Arctic Region ◽

White Paper ◽

Silk Road ◽

Nordic Countries ◽

The Arctic ◽

Chinese Enterprises ◽

Transportation Projects ◽

Technological Cooperation ◽

Belt And Road ◽

Arctic Policy

The introduction of the “Polar Silk Road (PSR)” into the first comprehensive white paper on Arctic policy is a historic step for China’s Arctic engagement. Over the past few years, China has achieved policy synergies and launched industrial, scientific and technological cooperation with Russia and Nordic countries. With enlarged interests and enhanced capabilities, China is becoming a preferred partner for Russia and Nordic countries in a number of infrastructure, energy and transportation projects within the Arctic region. The PSR framework to advance Arctic cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) presents both economic opportunities and social as well as environmental challenges for Chinese enterprises to balance the utilization and protection of the Arctic.

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China’s Belt and Road Initiative: An Overview of Developments

China and the World ◽

10.1142/s2591729318500104 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 01 (02) ◽

pp. 1850010

Author(s):

Sui Noi Goh

Keyword(s):

International Organizations ◽

Silk Road ◽

International Standards ◽

Financial Risks ◽

Trade Routes ◽

Maritime Silk Road ◽

The World ◽

Silk Road Economic Belt ◽

Belt And Road ◽

Arctic Policy

China’s ambitious initiative to build infrastructure in dozens of countries along land and sea trade routes stretching from China to Africa and Europe is set to grow bigger than first envisaged in 2013. Added to the original overland Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road is the Polar Silk Road, now written into China’s Arctic Policy that was published in January 2018. The China-centric initiative also got itself written into the Chinese Communist Party’s constitution in October 2017, leading many outside China to view it as more than an economic plan to build infrastructure to facilitate trade and boost development in developing countries. Foreign observers see it also as a scheme to expand China’s influence overseas by binding other nations more closely to it economically. That there is demand for the infrastructure that the Chinese want to build is unquestionable — in Asia alone, to keep the economies humming, there is a need to invest US$1.7 trillion annually in infrastructure up till 2030. However, the security and financial risks of this venture are daunting to investors as the routes run through some of the riskiest countries in the world. The situation is not helped by suspicion over China’s intentions and concerns about the lack of transparency and whether tender processes meet international standards. China needs to listen to and allay the concerns of governments, corporations and international organizations to gain their support and participation in this project that is so massive it cannot pull off alone.

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“Band Wagon and Gravy Train”: uses and abuses along the Silk Road

Afghanistan ◽

10.3366/afg.2019.0035 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 2 (2) ◽

pp. 171-194

Author(s):

Warwick Ball

Keyword(s):

20Th Century ◽

21St Century ◽

Silk Road ◽

Late 20Th Century ◽

Ancient Trade ◽

International Image ◽

Academic Discussion ◽

The Silk Road

The Silk Road as an image is a relatively new one for Afghanistan. It appeals to both the pre-Islamic and the perceived Islamic past, thus offering an Islamic balance to previous identities linked to Bamiyan or to the Kushans. It also appeals to a broader and more international image, one that has been taken up by many other countries. This paper traces the rise of the image of the Silk Road and its use as a metaphor for ancient trade to encompass all contacts throughout Eurasia, prehistoric, ancient and modern, but also how the image has been adopted and expanded into many other areas: politics, tourism and academia. It is argued here that the origin and popularity of the term lies in late 20th century (and increasingly 21st century) politics rather than any reality of ancient trade. Its consequent validity as a metaphor in academic discussion is questioned

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