China in the Arctic : A Perception of European Arctic States

Abstract

The Arctic region is under great transformation due to climate change. The retreating sea and land ice has revealed opportunities for potential natural resources and new shipping routes, which have attracted both Arctic and non-Arctic states competing for them. They basically manage the Arctic affairs under the auspices of the Arctic Council. China, identifying itself as a “near-Arctic” state, has also joined the “Arctic rush”, hoping to be benefited from the Arctic resources. This thesis, through qualitative research method and the lens of realistic international relations theory, does a research on the participation of China in Arctic affairs and the opinions and attitudes of the European Arctic states towards it. The result is that the European Arctic states hold twofold attitudes and opinions towards China: they engage with it in an active yet cautious attitude; they regard it as an indispensable partner and a potential destabilizer in the region as well. This thesis also makes discussions on three questions regarding the geopolitical situations in the Arctic involving China and gives corresponding recommendations.