China and the Arctic

Much attention has been paid to China’s Arctic ambitions as of late, with many commentators warning of a forthcoming aggressive pursuit of control over Arctic resources and shipping lanes. This article reviews China’s longstanding scientific, and growing economic and political, interests in the region and concludes that China has far more to gain by cooperating with Arctic neighbors and buying energy from Arctic EEZ-based projects, than by pursuing an aggressive and confrontational exploration strategy, which could be counterproductive for China's own position regarding disputes in the South China Sea. China has been pursuing cooperative and collaborative relations in the region, and is likely to do so in the future, not least because it is in its strategic and economic interest to do so

The Snow Dragon: China’s Strategies in the Arctic

In recent years, several analyses and news media articles have predicted a resurgence of tensions in the Arctic over access to maritime space. Among the contenders involved in this potential struggle is China, whose ambitions in the region are suspected to hold a destabilising potential. Yet, as Beijing is developing its policy towards the region, it remains unclear whether it will contest the claims over maritime access of countries bordering the Arctic and forcibly take over parts of the region for resource extraction purposes

China’s strategy in the Arctic : threatening or opportunistic?

In a context of rapid climatic change in the Arctic, the fast melting of permafrost, the decline of glaciers and the melting of sea ice created perceived strategic and economic opportunities for the littoral states. The attention of states beyond the region was also attracted. For example China, without direct access to the Arctic, displays an interest in Arctic research, natural resources, and shipping potential. However, its diplomatic, economic, political and scientific efforts in this region arouse negative reactions among western media. They often draw up a portrait of an ambitious and arrogant China, ready to push aside the sovereignty of the Arctic countries to defend its own interests in the Arctic. From this perspective, it seems relevant to analyse China's activities in the region and to try to assess Beijing's strategy, which seems more driven by opportunism than by a long-term desire to challenge the littoral states’ sovereignty

Is China's interest for the Arctic driven by Arctic shipping potential?

Interest from the Chinese government has been on the rise since about 2005, and the media have widely reported on these Chinese projects. China is often described as being very interested in both Arctic mineral resources and the opening of Arctic shipping routes, but in this characterization there is a hint of a perceived threat, as commentators are often stressing out that China’s appetite may lead Beijing into considering the Northwest Passage an international strait and resources as open up for grabs. However, the motives for this Chinese interest boils down to three points: diplomacy, access to natural resources and access to Arctic sea routes. To what extent are Chinese shipping firms really interested in developing active service along these polar waterways

Guerre en Ukraine. Quelles causes? Quelles conséquences pour les relations russo-chinoises?

Le conflit qui embrase l’Ukraine depuis le 21 février 2022, le conflit qui embrase l’Ukraine depuis le 21 février 2022, date de l'annonce de l'entrée des troupes russes dans le Donbass, trouve ses origines dans la recomposition politique internes à l’Ukraine, mais aussi dans les représentations que nourrit la Russie et son président Vladimir Poutine à son endroit. Quelles sont ces représentations ? La Chine pourrait-elle jouer un rôle dans l’évolution de ce conflit ?The conflict that has set Ukraine ablaze since February 21, 2022 has its origins in the internal political recomposition of Ukraine, but also in the representations that Russia and its President Vladimir Putin nurture about the former Soviet republic. What are these representations? Could China play a role in the evolution of this conflict

L’évolution des relations sino-russes vue de Moscou : les limites du rapprochement stratégique

Depuis quelques années, on observe un rapprochement économique et politique significatif entre la Chine et la Russie, marqué par l’annonce de nombreux grands accords commerciaux et d’investissements dans les infrastructures de transport et pour l’exploitation des ressources naturelles russes. Cette coopération semble plus marquée depuis la crise ukrainienne de 2014, alors que plusieurs médias européens et américains y voient un signe que la Chine et la Russie sont en train de former une forme d’alliance stratégique, qui pourrait nuire aux intérêts occidentaux. Cet article analyse les différentes formes du rapprochement sino-russe tout en soulignant les limites économiques et politiques de cette coopération.In the past few years, there has been a significant economic and political rapprochement between China and Russia, marked by the announcement of numerous trade agreements and investments in transport infrastructure and the exploitation of Russian natural resources. This cooperation seems deeper since the 2014 Ukrainian crisis. Several European and American media see it as a sign that China and Russia are developing a form of strategic alliance, which could harm Western interests. This article analyzes the different forms of Sino-Russian rapprochement while highlighting the economic and political limits of this cooperatio

Le Dragon des Neiges : les stratégies de la Chine en Arctique

Depuis quelques années, de nombreux articles de presse et d’analystes prédisent un regain de tension dans l’Arctique, dans ce qui serait une course à l’appropriation des espaces maritimes. Dans cette course, la Chine chercherait à se poser en acteur incontournable. Nombre d’analyses mettent l’accent sur les ambitieux projets chinois dans la région, et sur le potentiel déstabilisateur de ces ambitions. En réalité, si le gouvernement chinois semble préciser, depuis peu, une politique arctique, rien ne laisse entendre que la Chine va contester les revendications des pays riverains ou chercher à imposer un coup de force pour s’emparer des ressources supposées de la région.Index de mots-clés :Chine, Arctique, stratégie, géopolitique, ressources naturelles, partenariat stratégique sino-russ

Vers une harmonieuse coopération? : la Russie, la Chine et la route polaire de la Soie.

Le développement de la coopération sino-russe dans l’Arctique russe, où la présence chinoise est de plus en plus visible, est l’un des résultats les plus marquants du rapprochement entre Pékin et Moscou amorcé depuis plusieurs années. Comment comprendre l’ouverture russe et l’engagement chinois dans cette zone ? Que nous dit-il de la relation sino-russe