ship became the first commercial vessel to
Paper requires China to establish relations
presence on the island with strong opposition.
326
use the NSR to travel from Asia to Europe.
with all Arctic states and stakeholders. The
Danish politicians have warned that China
China and Russia declared their commitment
rationale is that if all Arctic actors are tied
is a threat to the overall security of political
to carrying out major cooperation projects
to China through agreements on scientific
interests, stating that the consequences of
in areas such as trade, energy, infrastructure,
research, resource extraction, infrastructure
China’s expansion on the global balance
and the NSR in 2017.
In 2018, China
development, and trade, then China is in a
of power are “incalculable and even more
entered a credit agreement with Russia
position “to manage unforeseen developments
ungovernable.”340 The annual risk assessment
wherein China agreed to provide up to $9.5
and future attempts to marginalise China in
reports published by the Danish Defense
billion for the construction of infrastructure,
the region.”
Intelligence Service have expressed concerns
327
333
including projects along Russia’s NSR.328
Second, Greenland has rich iron, zinc,
that Chinese investment will introduce
By acquiescing to Russia’s claim of control
rare earth elements, and uranium deposits,
dependencies and vulnerabilities to
over the NSR, China is supporting Russia’s
and erosion of the Greenland ice sheet allows
Greenland’s economy.341 Michael Sfraga, the
claim that the NSR is within internal waters.
greater area for mining projects. Though
Director of the Polar Institute, has said that
China has not reached similar agreements
China has large mineral reserves, Chinese
“[i]f you invest a lot in a small island country,
with Canada regarding the NWP.329 Though
iron ore is generally low grade.334 Further,
you could have a lot of sway there.”342
an arrangement with China would benefit
China produces over 80% of the global
Canada’s NWP claims, Canada has expressed
output of rare earth elements.
China has
criticism with skepticism, viewing it as an
concerns about China’s evolving position on
invested in Greenland’s Kvanjefjeld Project,
attempt to stymie Greenlandic independence
the status of the strait.330
where an estimated 270,000 tons of uranium
rather than a good faith concern. 343
China’s involvement in establishing
are deposited.336 Such investments have been
Disagreements between Denmark and
international recognition of Arctic sea
made possible by changes in the Greenland-
Greenland over which nation has jurisdiction
routes exacerbates conflict among Arctic
Denmark power structure. For example, the
over what types of foreign investment are
States that dispute Russia’s and Canada’s
Self-Government Act shifted responsibility
already a source of tension. China’s economic
claims. However, China’s influence over
for the administration of mineral and oil
interest in mining and infrastructure projects
semi-sovereign Greenland presents a more
extraction in Greenland from Denmark to
further strains relations between Denmark
direct source of conflict for the region.
Greenland.337 Pursuant to its new authority,
and Greenland.344
Greenland is a territory of Denmark that is
Greenland was able to diversify its economy
These tensions are exemplified by
moving toward independence.
by repealing a law that banned mining of rare
Danish interference in Greenlandic-Chinese
earth elements and radioactive material.
development plans. In 2016, Denmark
331
To obtain
economic independence from Denmark
335
338
Greenlandic politicians have met Danish
without compromising the level of welfare,
Finally, Greenland presents an
attempted to sell the aforementioned naval
Greenland must necessarily invite foreign
opportunity to enhance global infrastructure.
base but took it off the market when a
development and investment.332 Greenland
The nation marks the arrival point of the
Chinese company expressed an interest in
is looking for investments to further develop
Polar Silk Road and is the only route that
buying it. The Danish government claimed
and diversify its economy. It has shown a
339
does not pass through territorial waters.
the reversal was based on a determination
willingness to accept Chinese investment,
China has expressed interest in establishing
that the base was still of use in Denmark’s
which it perceives as an opportunity to move
an Arctic research hub in Greenland.
Arctic defense. However, leaks released to the
toward full Greenlandic independence.
Further, Chinese firms have made attempts
Danish media indicated that the real reason
to buy an abandoned naval base and finance
was to avoid selling the base to the Chinese
commercial airports in Greenland.
firm. The scandal enforced Greenlandic
Greenland is of interest to China for three reasons. First, investment in Greenland enhances Chinese influence in the Arctic. The
However, Denmark thwarted these
mistrust towards Denmark and strengthened
“win-win” strategy espoused in the White
attempts and has generally met Chinese
suspicions that the Danish government is
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Currents 24.2 2021
