China’s Polar Diplomacy: No Longer On Ice

Although China is a relative newcomer to both the Arctic and Antarctica, the country has begun to make up for lost time by greatly expanding its interests in both Polar Regions over the past few years. Scientific interests, including the role of climate change and how it may be affecting China itself, are still taking the lead in Chinese diplomacy at both poles, yet there is also a growing concern in circumpolar economics and politics, especially as both regions have gained more international attention. In the Arctic, China has expressed greater interest in the region’s development, including potentially making the Arctic Ocean part of the emerging ‘Belt and Road’ networks. In the Antarctic, Beijing recently held a key global meeting on the continent’s future, stressing the need for scientific cooperation but also noting the potential opening up of Antarctica in the coming decades. In short, China is now seeking to be understood internationally as a polar player, and a partner for new initiatives in both regions. Thus, a major question is how the traditional polar powers, including the United States, Europe and Russia, will react to China’s expanded diplomacy in the Far North and Far South.

Marc Lanteigne is a Senior Lecturer in Chinese, East Asian and Polar Affairs at the Centre for Defence and Strategic Studies (CDSS), at Massey University, Auckland, New Zealand. Originally from Montréal, he is the author of numerous books and articles on Chinese foreign policy, Asian regional institutions, and non-traditional security issues, including China’s growing interests in the Polar Regions.