China's Icebreaker Xue Long with the ninth Arctic Expedition Team members on board arrives in Shanghai on September 26, 2018. Photo: IC

The cooperation between China and Russia in the Arctic region seems to have alarmed some in Washington, reported the Nikkei Asian Review on Sunday. Some have expressed concerns over China's ambitions and Russia-aided expansion in the Arctic, but such fears are groundless.

China and Russia have not yet made any big move on cooperation in the Arctic, with the exception of some liquefied natural gas projects that are not new to the public. Moreover, the timing for any such move may not be appropriate. As the coronavirus pandemic has rattled its economy, Russia, like most countries in the world, has mainly focused its attention on anti-virus efforts and how to get its economy through the current difficulties.

Nevertheless, there is no denying that China has shown strong interest in Arctic affairs and expressed its willingness to strengthen cooperation with Arctic countries on potential subjects, which is understandable given the region's great commercial potential. The Arctic region is rich in resources including but not limited to oil and gas, and climate change has greatly improved the conditions for the exploitation of these resources. Arctic shipping routes, if successfully developed, would be a huge boost to global trade and the shipping industry.

Infrastructure is currently weak in the Arctic, meaning there is great potential for cooperation between China and Nordic countries for regional economic development. 

With the implementation of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), China has been advocating the joint construction of the Ice Silk Road in the Arctic, focusing economic cooperation on investments in Arctic shipping routes and energy development. If China and Russia can reach some agreement on cooperation in the region within the BRI framework, it would offer a boost to infrastructure and commercial development in the Arctic.

It should be noted that as the relations between China and the US are on the brink of a new "Cold War," any China-Russia cooperation at this juncture could be considered sensitive and carry political meaning in the eyes of some. Furthermore, there have always been some international concerns over China's involvement in the Arctic, which may be due to a lack of understanding about the BRI or Ice Silk Road. But China's participation in Arctic development thus far has shown that regional cooperation will only be based on commercial considerations, openness and transparency, and any intent to politicize the Ice Silk Road will create unnecessary issues and derail cooperation.