The battle for resources

As ice caps melt, battle for Arctic resources heats up

Want China Times,

7 August, 2013

The melting of ice around the Arctic has intensified the race for tapping into the region's abundant natural resources. Several countries operate military bases in the region and disputes related to the North Pole have become more fraught, owing to the region's military occupation and its vast resources.

Zhang Jian, head of the European department of the China Institute of Contemporary International Relations, said that because of global warming, areas that were earlier difficult to reach now have enormous potential for development. The channels and resources employed to do that are the most important factors.

In terms of channels, it is difficult to pass thorough the region as the Arctic Circle's waters are covered with ice. As the ice is melting, sailing is partially allowed in some ports, which has significantly changed the distribution of global waterways.

It is noteworthy that once the sea ice melts, the Arctic waterways will become the shortest route connecting Asia, Europe and the Americas.

In addition, countries that border the Arctic Ocean had begun vying for a chance to develop the region and to tap into the Arctic's precious resources, Zhang stated.

Guo Xuan, CEO for a military website, pointed out that the Arctic Circle has become a hot spot for the establishment of military bases because of its enormous resources. Additionally, the region also holds military and strategic significance.

The Russian Northern Fleet has resumed sailing in the Arctic waters to the Atlantic Ocean.

The Arctic Circle has remained stable and peaceful so far, but it is possible that the region could become the front line for a conflict related to NATO, headed by the United States, and Russia, according to a post on a Canada-based global research center's website.

The center urged the Arctic Council to take the military issue seriously and to prevent such an incident from occurring.

Zhang disagreed with the center's point of view. He said NATO itself is a military and safety group. Its member states are nations bordering the Atlantic Ocean, as well as countries located around the North Pole.

As such, it is unavoidable for NATO to be involved in the dispute related to a fight for resources and waters, as well as a competition for unclaimed islands, Zhang said.

"The reaction from abroad reflected some countries' extreme reaction to China participating in a scientific expedition to the Arctic," Guo said, adding that they feared that China's reasonable and legal activities would hurt their interests in the region.

Guo added that China should not be mistaken for having military interests in the Arctic's affairs.

Ren Jingjing, an expert at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, said China's participation in Arctic affairs has nothing to do with achieving military goals.

In recent years, China's cooperation with the Arctic Council has gotten better. In 2007, China became a temporary observer and two years later, it began applying for status as a permanent observer.

According to the Guangzhou-based Southern Daily, it is not easy for China to participate deeply in Arctic affairs, because it is a non-Arctic state, but its role as an official observer can help create an opportunity for China to aggressively take part in regional affairs.

Ren pointed that although China does not have the right to vote, it can at least take part in the policy-making process as part of the council. This was why working with the Arctic Council is favorable for China.

China respects the sovereignty and jurisdiction enjoyed by Arctic states based on the international laws, Ren said. In other words, China is simply treating the issue of environmental changes seriously and working actively with other countries to advance science.

In addition, China is also concerned about the potential influence of the melting ice on global logistics and trade, and hopes to work with Arctic states to achieve maximum benefits through practical means.

China wants to become an observer at the Arctic Council to contribute to peace and the environmental protection of the region, Ren stated.

He added that China was willing to working with Arctic states and non-Arctic nations to maintain the peace, stability and sustainable development in the Arctic Circle.