Japan concerned by China’s plan to build ‘polar Silk Road’ in Arctic
Beijing intends to pursue shipping routes, to drill for natural resources and develop a tourism industry in the northernmost region
Beijing is planning to exert “territorial control” over parts of the Arctic Ocean and could send more warships into waters off Japan in a move analysts say is reminiscent of its seizure of disputed islands in the South China Sea.
The Chinese government in January issued its first ever white paper detailing plans for the Arctic and announcing intentions to play a significant role in matters that affect the region as a “near-Arctic state”.
The white paper emphasises how conditions in the Arctic have an impact on China’s climate, ecology and economic interests, ranging from agriculture to fishing, forestry, agriculture and other sectors. And as Beijing shares interests with other Arctic states, the paper added, Beijing hopes to work with other stakeholders to “jointly build a ‘Polar Silk Road’ and facilitate connectivity and sustainable economic and social development of the Arctic”.
China also made it clear it will use Arctic resources to “pursue its own interests”, which include exploiting shipping routes to Europe, drilling for oil, gas and other natural resources, utilising fishing resources and developing the “emerging industry” of Arctic tourism.
When the use of Arctic routes is increasingly active, there will be a rise in the number of opportunities for Chinese warships
Yoichi Shimada, a professor of international relations at Fukui Prefectural University, pointed out that Beijing made a number of promises when it ignored the claims of other nations surrounding the South China Sea and occupied the atolls and islets, including that it would not militarise the islands.
