ABSTRACT
This chapter analyses the background of China’s first Arctic policy white paper published in January 2018, its significance for China’s Arctic engagement and its possible influence on the future of Arctic legal developments. It concludes that the main positions in the white paper are further elaborations of earlier statements, highlighting the importance of “respect, cooperation, a win–win result and sustainability” as China’s set of basic principles for participation in Arctic affairs. The most important factor for future legal developments is that the white paper reaffirms China’s international legal commitments while employing arguments based on international law to strengthen its position in the Arctic. In other words, it states that China is going to play by the rules in the Arctic. This is done by recognising the sovereignty of the Arctic states, as well as existing legal frameworks and institutions in the Arctic, while referring to third-party rights, such as the freedom of navigation, and the rights of the international community in the Arctic. Two interesting additions are included in the white paper, with regards to global governance, through an emphasis on China’s permanent member status in the UN Security Council and the introduction of a “Polar Silk Road” to advance Arctic cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative with a broad range of stakeholders.
