China's Role in the Development of a New Connectivity Pattern in the Arctic from the Polar Silk Road

Climate change is impacting the Arctic much sooner and more dramatically than in other areas of the world, with the Arctic icecap melting at a rapid pace. For that, the Arctic has entered the world stage gaining attention from global actors. Indeed, a race to the Arctic has begun among both Arctic and non-Arctic states – as China. As a result, what was once a peripheral region regarded as a zone of peace has turned into one of the most relevant scenes of geopolitical maneuvering. Due to these recent developments, the aim of this thesis is to analyse the extent of the Chinese involvement in the Arctic cooperation and affairs. Notwithstanding that, several pertinent questions arise. What are the aims and basis of China's Arctic policy? Is it China in the Arctic a threat or an opportunity for both Arctic states and the international community, and is it possible to consider it as a responsible stakeholder in the High North region? On 26 January 2018, China released a White Paper devoted to its Arctic policy. China understands the economic opportunities and the territorial challenges in the region as it seeks a greater role in Arctic development. The White Paper summarizes China's policy goals and the principles guiding its conduct. Moreover, it outlines China's ambitious plan to develop a Polar Silk Road (PSR) across the Arctic. The PSR framework to advance Arctic cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative presents both economic opportunities and social as well as environmental challenges for Chinese government and enterprises to balance the utilization and protection of the Arctic. Besides that, as a non-Arctic state with no territorial sovereignty on the region, China's ambition would be fulfilled on its cooperation and the alignment of its interest with Arctic states. For that, the country is seeking policy synergies on bilateral win-to-win investment and projects in the industrial, scientific and technological field with Russia, USA, Canada and Scandinavian countries. However, China recognizes the importance of multilateral cooperation in this globalized world, hence, it recognizes the existing law regulation, as the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), and it conducts an active role in the current multilateral organisations. The admission of China as an observer in the Arctic Council in May 2013 marks the pinnacle of China's Arctic diplomacy and shows a degree of seriousness towards Arctic affairs. Despite this positive and cooperative environment, the Arctic region will be facing some important challenges in the future. For this reason, China's attitude towards the area and its ability to behave as a responsible stakeholder in order to manage the increasingly complex Arctic regime and disparities between Arctic and non-Arctic states to develop a more inclusive environment will be decisive for the future of Arctic governance.