China's Engagement with the Arctic Council - Seeking Natural Resources and International Status
Author
Term
4. term
Publication year
2016
Submitted on
2016-08-03
Pages
39
Abstract
China’s expanding economy has set new standards of the natural resources it needs to maintain its economic growth and since China is no longer self-reliant in regards of natural resources, Beijing has already been seeking oil and other energy and natural resources in Africa, the Middle East, Latin America, Central Asia, the South Pacific and South-east Asia. China has a long history of climate and scientific research in the Arctic region and in 2013 China was granted the status as a permanent observer within the Arctic Council. Beijing has stated that its main interest in the Arctic region is to continue its research, but since Beijing has not yet published any official Arctic policy, there is uncertainty about China’s true objectives in the Arctic. This research investigates whether or not China holds genuine interests of climate and scientific research or whether its Arctic interests are merely based on the potential of extracting natural resources.
Documents