Russia and China are increasingly cooperating in the Arctic, potentially affecting regional stability, the US military said in releasing its strategy for the region on Monday.
Russia has reopened hundreds of Soviet-era military facilities in the Arctic, the report said. China, which describes itself as a “near-Arctic” state, also has ambitions there and has said it aims to build a “Polar Silk Road.” China has its eyes on mineral resources and new shipping routes as ice sheets retreat with rising temperatures.
“Increasingly, the People’s Republic of China and Russia are collaborating in the Arctic through multiple instruments of national power,” the Pentagon said.
“While significant areas of disagreement remain between the People’s Republic of China and Russia, their increasing alignment in the region is a cause for concern, and (the Department of Defense) continues to monitor this cooperation,” he added.
Arctic shipping routes are increasingly being used to connect major economies across the Pacific and Atlantic oceans as global warming shrinks ice sheets and allows for longer periods without sea ice.
China and Russia have been collaborating on developing Arctic shipping routes, as Russia seeks to supply more oil and gas to China amid Western sanctions, while China seeks an alternative shipping route to reduce its dependence on the Strait of Malacca.
“China has been participating in Arctic affairs in line with the basic principles of respecting win-win cooperation and sustainable development, and has strengthened cooperation with other parties to maintain peace and stability,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning told reporters on Tuesday.
Security experts and military appointees in the region say China’s reliance on Indian Ocean shipping lanes is seen as a strategic vulnerability for Beijing, especially in the event of a conflict over Taiwan.
The Pentagon report added that China sought to take advantage of “changing Arctic dynamics to gain greater influence and access, harness Arctic resources, and play a greater role in regional governance.”
The report added that the US military had a “surveillance and response” strategy in the region, based on intelligence gathering, cooperation with allies and the ability to deploy military resources.
The United States, Canada and Finland will form a consortium to build icebreakers this month, seeking to bolster allied shipbuilding and counter Russia and China in increasingly strategic polar regions.
The deal – which the three NATO members are expected to sign by the end of the year – will unite allies’ demand for increased shipbuilding capacity, one official said, adding that it was designed to send a message to Russia and China.
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