The economic exploitation of the Arctic region will facilitate the formation of an industry chain and a profit chain and the Arctic environmental protection will form a responsibility chain and a contribution chain going beyond the Arctic region, all of which will concern China’s interests. On Arctic governance, importance should be attached to the role of countries outside the region and emerging economies. As an important signatory of international treaties, China is entitled to multiple rights and interests in the Arctic.

Recently, some has described China as an energy-thirsty country and an interest expansionist. These criticisms are far from the truth and are detrimental to China’s future economic cooperations with other players and the arduous  task of Arctic governance. 

Statistics show that these criticisms are groundless prejudice. With 19 percent of the world’s population, China’s total economic output ranks the second in the world. It has more than 130 million enterprises, and over 2,400 listed companies on the mainland. Accordingly, Chinese companies should have its due share in the world’s enormous economic opportunities. But how about the status quo? Take Greenland as an example. It has issued 20 oil and gas exploitation licenses, over 100 mining licenses to foreign companies, none of which is granted to a single Chinese company. Only one Chinese company was engaged in a third-country company’s project in Greenland. Chinese companies’ engagement is rather low. In fact, the conditions for exploitation in the Arctic region is immature because of its fragile environment. Many Chinese enterprises are aware of the risks and environment of Arctic exploitation and therefore very prudent not to take a proactive posture. 

The criticisms also reflect that the critics have little understanding about China’s interests and relevance in Arctic affairs, which need us to clarify.

First, in a globalize age and a relatively fragile natural environment, China as a big developing country, its development interests are closely related to the Arctic region. Economic development and environmental protection are the two sides of a coin. The economic exploitation of the Arctic region will facilitate the formation of an industry chain and a profit chain and the Arctic environmental protection will form a responsibility chain and a contribution chain going beyond the Arctic region, all of which will concern China’s interests. For instance, Arctic Oscillation in recent years directly influences China’s natural environment, manufacture, and people’s living. Shipping lanes and developments of relevant institutions will certainly affect China’s trade and shipping interests.

Second, Arctic governance, such as environmental governance and climate change governance, requires the provision of public goods and the contributions made by competent actors. The task cannot be accomplished only with the contributions by big countries like Russia, the U.S. and Canada. The international system is undergoing profound changes, so the importance of countries outside the Arctic region and emerging economies requires attention.

Third, though with no territory or waters under its administration, as equal signatories of the Spitsbergen Treaty and the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, China is entitled to multiple interests and rights in the Arctic region, while shouldering mandated obligations. 

Therefore, it is reasonable that China should be engaged in Arctic affairs. Peace, effective governance, friendly environment, green development, S&T progress in the Arctic region meet the interests of all nations in the world, including China. China is willing to make its due contributions in this regard. 

On the basis of international cooperation, China follows the principle of “three conforms”to engage in Arctic affairs, namely, conforms to relevant international laws; conforms to the trend of economic globalization; and conforms to the bilateral interests of China and relevant countries. Bearing in mind relevant countries’ concerns and its own expectations, China proactively looks for common interests, reduces conflicts with others, and creates new interests that can be shared with other parties. China does not have territorial claims in the region, respects the sovereign rights and other interests and rights of Arctic countries, hopes that maritime rights and territorial disputes in the region can be settled through peaceful means. At the same time, China is concerned about the indigenous people’s wellbeing in the Arctic. 

To sum up, China is a constructive participant in Arctic affairs.

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