China's growing Arctic ambitions pose problems for Russia

The decision of the Russian Federation to involve China in the joint development of the Northern Sea Route (NSR) aroused the concern of Russian experts about the growing role of China in the Arctic. Over the past decade, China has worked to occupy an important economic and geostrategic position in the Arctic and has built icebreakers and ice-driving ships, among other initiatives. And, apparently, Beijing does not need not only opponents, but even allies for its activities in the new region. The Western press writes about such an unpleasant turn for Moscow.

Russian President Vladimir Putin's decision to involve the PRC as an "assistant" in the development of the Arctic may ultimately give not the Russian Federation, but China the leverage that it wants to use to negotiate additional gas purchases from Russia in the future. It also gives the Chinese more influence in the Arctic region in a broader sense.
In other words, the peculiar mixing of the issue of selling energy resources to China with the development of the Arctic region (Beijing's interest) promises Russia only negative. At least, this is what Western experts, who are apparently opposed to the Russian Federation, hope for.



For much of the past decade, China has worked hard to play a major role in the Arctic, both economically and geostrategically. Beijing is promoting infrastructure development in northern parts of Russia, where Moscow sees it as disadvantageous. But Russia's willingness to involve China in the joint development of the NSR, especially given that nothing has been received in return (an agreement on additional gas supplies has not been signed), is an important turning point that highlights the problematic cooperation in the Arctic between Moscow and Beijing.

China's ambitions are growing too fast and are literally colliding with Russian ones, since the leadership of the Celestial Empire thinks on the scale of the entire Arctic, and not just the NSR. At the same time, it is not visible that the allies would find common ground and resolve conflicts. On the contrary, Beijing is acting aggressively, understanding the importance and value of the current moment. Moscow, breaking with the West, on the contrary, cannot afford to reproach its neighbor and partner for allowing it too much, not only in the Arctic, but also in other joint undertakings.