CHINA AS A NEAR-ARCTIC POWER: MULTIDIMENSIONAL POLICY IN THE ARCTIC REGION

Year 2026, Volume: 8 Issue: 1, 22 - 33, 30.01.2026

Takhira Kamaljanova Aidarkhan Dauylbayev

https://izlik.org/JA84HK24CE

Abstract

In this paper, the changing paradigm of the Chinese government’s response to the Arctic region is examined, with special focus on the increasing engagement of the non-Arctic state within the region, which has initially been under the impact of Arctic nations. It analyzes the progress of China’s engagement in the Arctic region, from science-based research in the late twentieth century to the formation of a structured geopolitical and geo-economic strategy in the region. The study examines various aspects of China’s involvement in the Arctic, such as scientific cooperation, environmental initiatives, infrastructure projects, and investments in energy development. In particular, the “Polar Silk Road” initiative, which extends China’s Belt and Road Initiative to include the Arctic’s Northern Sea Route in China’s vision of an alternative global trade route, receives special consideration. Moreover, this study evaluates China’s political approach in terms of supporting the “near-Arctic state” stance and the pursuit of an internationalized governance pattern in the Arctic. Finally, with a holistic approach that combines politics, science, and economics, this study provides insight into China’s strategic intentions in the Arctic and what such intentions may mean for the regional and global future balance.

Keywords

China , Arctic strategy , Near-Arctic state , Polar Silk Road , Ice Silk Road , Northern Sea Route , China’s Arctic policy

Ethical Statement

This study did not require approval from an ethics committee as it did not involve human participants, animals, or sensitive personal data. All data used in this research were obtained from publicly available sources.

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