China’s Implementation of the Arctic Advancement Strategy: Key Partners, Contenders and Implementation Opportunities
The Arctic region has recently been of interest to an increasing number of countries, both adjacent to it on the border and remote from the polar territories. The resources hidden in the Arctic and made available to exploit as the ice melts are attractive to all countries, without exception, because they create vast economic opportunities. China, seeking to elevate its global status, could not ignore the issue of establishing spheres of influence over the Arctic territories. The motivation for the Celestial Empire's Ice Silk Road strategy was the need to find alternative logistics routes to deliver goods to Europe, as well as an opportunity to assert its geopolitical ambitions. The article examines the position of the Celestial Empire among other countries claiming to develop the polar territories. In particular, a comparison was made with Russia and India. It is noted that both these countries have interests that do not coincide with Beijing's priorities, but for objective reasons they will have to support the new strategy of the Celestial Empire rather than oppose it.