People protest against US President Donald Trump's policy toward Greenland in front of the US consulate in Nuuk, Greenland, on January 17, 2026. Photo: VCG

Since the beginning of 2026, the US has repeatedly claimed that it must take control of Greenland to prevent threats from China and Russia, alleging that there are Chinese and Russian vessels "all over the place" outside of Greenland. What is the reality? What is China's actual presence in Greenland? And does China pose any threat to Greenland at all?

Based on information from various sources, China currently has no official institutions in Greenland, no investment projects, and no resident companies. There are only some 30 Chinese workers working at Greenlandic seafood companies. Cooperation between China and Greenland is largely confined to trade, particularly in aquatic products. In 2025, bilateral trade between China and Greenland reached $429 million, of which Greenland's exports to China amounted to $420 million, mainly Arctic shrimp, halibut, cod, lobster and other seafood. Greenland's imports from China totaled $9 million, consisting largely of daily consumer goods.

Nor are there many Chinese tourists visiting Greenland. Although the island boasts stunning natural scenery, it is not easy to reach it from China and remains a niche destination for Chinese travelers. In 2024, only about 3,500 Chinese tourists visited Greenland.

Claims that there are Chinese vessels all over the waters near Greenland, or that Greenland faces a so-called "China threat," are even more groundless. On January 16, Soren Andersen, Major General of Denmark's Joint Arctic Command in Greenland dismissed such claims in an interview, stating clearly that "there were no Chinese or Russian ships near Greenland." Vessel-tracking data from MarineTraffic and LSEG likewise show no Chinese ships presence near Greenland. Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen has repeatedly clarified to the media that there is no "instant threat" from China. Rasmus Jarlov, the chair of Denmark's parliamentary defense committee, put it even more bluntly: The claim that "a big threat from China and Russia against Greenland are delusional."

Whether in terms of facts or policy, China does not pose a threat to Greenland. In fact, China has been subjected to unfair restrictions there. Denmark's Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen has openly acknowledged that the Danish government previously used administrative measures to veto the participation of Chinese companies in Greenland's airport expansion and mining projects, and has already established an investment screening mechanism that will not allow Chinese investment in Greenland in the future. Whether such sacrifices of China can buy a US "hands-off" is highly doubtful - and hardly worthy of respect.

Anyone can see that the current tensions in the Arctic stem primarily from the actions of a certain country advancing claims that violate international law and the purposes and principles of the UN Charter. By contrast, China made it explicit in its 2018 white paper China's Arctic Policy that "all states should abide by international treaties such as the UN Charter and the UNCLOS, as well as general international law. They should respect the sovereignty, sovereign rights, and jurisdiction enjoyed by the Arctic States in this region, respect the tradition and culture of the indigenous peoples." 

On January 12, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning further stressed at a regular press briefing: "The Arctic bears on the common interests of the international community. China's activities in the Arctic are aimed at promoting the peace, stability and sustainable development of the region. They are in line with the international law. Countries' right and freedom to carry out activities in the Arctic in accordance with the law needs to be fully respected. The US should not use other countries as a pretext for seeking selfish gains."

From China's perspective, the future of the Arctic should not be a battleground for geopolitical rivalry, but a low-tension region for international cooperation on climate change and sustainable development. Claims that "China threatens Greenland" are simply too absurd to be worth refuting.

The author is an observer of international affairs. opinion@globaltimes.com.cn