ABSTRACT
An open Arctic Ocean presents a unique opportunity for both China and international trade in general. China is conducting research in both the Arctic and Antarctic with an emphasis on climate change, and it has one of the world’s largest non-nuclear icebreakers used in polar research. China’s growing interests in the Arctic have aroused a mix of reactions from traditional Arctic states. A number of prominent Canadian scholars advocate for reconciling the need to find pathways for deeper engagement with China while mitigating risks and building capacities to manage differences. Russia is the gatekeeper for China’s access to the Northern Sea Route. Russia and China, though sharing a common desire in many aspects, have a complex relationship in balancing competition and cooperation with lingering mistrust on both sides, be it in regards to Central Asia, the Russian Far East, or the Arctic.
