10 March 2010
chinese arctic concerns and russia
независимая reports a SIPRI study into Chinese attitudes towards the Arctic and Russia’s plans for the development of the Arctic. Chinese interest is motivated by the potential that Russia will charge high rates for shipping along the NSR. Chinese participation in the recent Arctic Frontiers conference was noted on this blog here. The SIPRI author states that control over the NSR will grant real leverage in the global economy and the report seems to suggest that China will be active at the UN in examining Russia’s claims to an extension of its continental shelf. This report and others discuss this issue with reference, though fairly restricted, to the potential for military confrontation, including just a hint of defiance – ‘И вряд ли большого азиатского дракона остановит маленький трехцветный флаг на дне холодного океана.’
голос россии also has a hint of defiance, noting that China doesn’t have the ships to operate in Arctic conditions - ‘ Реальность же показывает, что несмотря на все громкие заявления у Пекина пока нет кораблей, которые были бы приспособлены к хождению по северным водам’. It adds pithily, ‘Маршрут будет открыт для всех, но корабли должны будут соблюдать российские экологические и навигационные правила’ - i.e., ‘the route will be open to all, but ships must comply with Russian ecological and navigational regulations.’
время новости has an interview with the SIPRI report’s author. This contains some highly significant pieces of information for understanding this issue such as the fact that China is building good relations with the smaller Arctic nations, such as Norway (something which was clear from the Arctic Frontiers conference where they appeared to receive good support for achieving permanent observer status from Norway). Iceland’s largest overseas embassy also belongs to China (something which the British Government should ideally have reflected on before using anti-terrorist legislation to claw back a couple of billions pounds from bust Icelandic banks).
From the interview in время, the SIPRI author is keen to point out that military confrontation is not really on the cards.
