China, Russia navigate in Arctic cooperation

The opportunities for Sino-Russian cooperation in the Arctic region are significant in several areas. The Arctic is home to vast, untapped reserves of oil, natural gas and minerals. China, with its growing energy demand, is keen to secure a stable supply of these resources, including from the Arctic — even though Russia, which lacks capital and technology for large-scale oil and gas extraction, also stands to benefit from Chinese investment and technological support.

The melting of Arctic ice due to climate change has made the Northern Sea Route more accessible, which could significantly shorten the shipping distance between Asia and Europe, while reducing the time and investment for global trade. Russia, which controls this route, sees the Arctic as a good opportunity to boost its economic development. As for China, it views the Northern Sea Route as an essential component of its Belt and Road Initiative, particularly the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road.

But despite the potential benefits, there are several challenges and uncertainties that make the long-term success of Sino-Russian cooperation in the Arctic difficult to predict. From a geopolitical perspective, the United States and its allies are likely to view Sino-Russian cooperation in the Arctic with suspicion, potentially leading to increased strategic competition in the region.