China needs to be more active in the Arctic

Toward the end of 2019 China plans to double the capacity of its icebreakers by commissioning a new research vessel, which will be a huge step forward for Beijing to better understand the consequences of climate change in the Arctic and reiterate its ability to become a crucial player in the region.

The United States, Russia and the Nordic countries are using their expertise and expediting efforts to derive maximum benefits from the developments in the Arctic. To match their pace, China has to deepen its participation in traditional regional activities such as transportation and resource extraction, and focus on new emerging markets in the Arctic.

Transit cargo and container deliveries to Europe through the Northern Sea Route fit perfectly with the concept of the Belt and Road Initiative, but China has to put in more efforts to make the interested parties actually take part in the initiative.