China looks to the Arctic

‘The prospect of the Northwest Passage as a sea route in the future is also increasing interest in the Arctic,’ believes China expert Nan Li from the U.S. Naval War College, who is in Denmark for a conference on Arctic security.

‘China would save money on fuel and insurance by using the Northeast Passage instead of having warships escort its cargo ships because of the threat of pirates when sailing south of Asia,’ Nan Li told Berlingske. com.

He also predicts the Chinese will intervene in the political debate over the Arctic.

‘But they will discuss the internationalisation of the Arctic and not a nationalisation, because that would restrict their ability to move in the Arctic. They will discuss that issue in different political contexts,’ said Nan Li.