OTTAWA/BEIJING – China’s diplomatic outreach into the Arctic is intensifying, with its envoy to Canada asserting that Beijing and Ottawa share common ground on respecting Greenland’s territorial integrity. The statement arrives as Western security analysts express growing concern over the strategic alignment between China and Russia in the resource-rich and increasingly accessible High North.
Speaking this week, Chinese Ambassador Wang Di emphasized Beijing’s adherence to international law, stating, “China’s consistent policy is to respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all countries. That goes to Greenland, that goes to Canada.” The comments appear calibrated to address geopolitical anxieties stirred by past rhetoric from the United States regarding the potential acquisition of Greenland, a Danish territory.
Ambassador Wang explicitly criticized unilateral approaches to international governance, referencing the “rhetoric about the 51st state,” a clear allusion to suggestions made by former U.S. President Donald Trump. Beijing is leveraging these instances to position itself as a reliable actor upholding the UN Charter, a narrative that contrasts sharply with Western critiques of China’s actions in the South China Sea.
Despite maintaining its self-designation as a “near-Arctic state,” China’s stated objectives in the region focus on climate change mitigation and regional stability. “Chinese activities in the Arctic region only have one goal, that is to promote the development of this region and to uphold the stability and peace of that region,” Wang asserted.
However, Ottawa remains cautious. Canada’s late 2024 Arctic foreign policy document acknowledged China’s interest in commercial shipping and exploiting critical minerals, noting that Chinese research vessels often possess “dual-use” capabilities with potential military applications. Canada maintains that any research within its Exclusive Economic Zone requires explicit consent under UNCLOS rules.
Geopolitical experts suggest China’s strategy is subtly shifting. Research from institutions like Harvard University indicates that after facing policy pushback from Arctic states, Beijing has dialed back overt investment pushes, even as its scientific presence deepens. Crucially, following Western sanctions against Russia, Moscow has become increasingly reliant on Beijing for Arctic investment and collaboration.
Elizabeth Wishnick of the Center for Naval Analyses noted that the post-2022 environment has fostered a “deepening Russia-China military co-operation,” particularly in strategic areas like the Bering Sea, vital for China’s access to the Northern Sea Route. This cooperation is facilitated by Russia’s isolation, leaving few alternative partners for Arctic development.
While the immediate threat of Chinese naval vessels circling Greenland appears overstated according to some analysts, the dual-use nature of China’s advanced undersea and space technology raises persistent security questions for North American defense planners, such as enhancing NORAD capabilities.
The diplomatic maneuvering continued as Wang acknowledged Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s recent call at Davos for middle powers to resist economic coercion. China seeks to frame this as a shared goal to “jointly safeguard international fairness and justice,” implicitly positioning itself against perceived unilateral actions by major powers.
Source: Based on reporting from Globalnews.ca and commentary from Arctic security experts.