In late 2023, Magnus Maeland was elected mayor of a little town on the northern edge of Norway, and three Chinese delegations knocked on his door.
China is determined to be a major participant in the Arctic, even if it may not be the first country that comes to mind. It has been competing to purchase real estate and participate in infrastructural initiatives to create a long-lasting regional presence.
Although its northernmost provincial capital, Harbin, is located on around the same latitude as Venice, Italy, China already refers to itself as a “near-Arctic state.However, the Arctic is quickly becoming as one of the world’s most contentious regions. China, Russia, Europe, India, and the US are fierce rivals of Beijing.
According to climate scientists, the Arctic is warming four times faster than any other region. This impacts local inhabitants, wildlife, and ecosystems. The Arctic is vast, covering about 4% of the world. However, due to climatic changes, global powers perceive a new universe of potential emerging in the Arctic.
The melting ice simplifies access to the Arctic’s amazing natural resources, including vital minerals, oil, and gas—roughly 30% of undiscovered natural gas is thought to be located in the region. Additionally, it is creating opportunities for new marine commerce routes, significantly reducing the time it takes to travel between Asia and Europe.
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