THE THOUGHTS OF THE PEOPLE OF SULTENG – Behind the eternal ice and silence of the Arctic, a new geopolitical battle front is frozen. The Arctic region, which for centuries was considered isolated, has now turned into the epicenter of the competition for global supremacy between the Washington and Beijing-Moscow axis.
Through a neat and measured approach, China is now positioning itself as no longer just an Asian economic giant, but a dominant power ready to challenge the dominance of the United States directly in its northern courtyard.
This monumental step stems from the vision outlined by President Xi Jinping regarding Polar Silk Road or the Polar Silk Road. Using the argument of global climate change, where melting Arctic ice threatens megacities like Shanghai with tidal floods, Beijing legitimizes its presence in the arctic circle through Science Diplomacy.
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Armed with the legendary icebreaker Xuelong (Snow Dragon) and exploiting the legal loopholes of the past Svalbard Treaty, China succeeded in establishing the Yellow River Station on Svalbard as well as winning observer status in the Arctic Council.
However, beneath the cloak of scientific research, international defense analysts see a much larger strategic agenda: security, resources, and alternative navigation routes. So far, China’s global supply chain has had to pass through the Strait of Malacca and the South China Sea which are closely guarded by the United States Navy. Melting Arctic ice offers an alternative northern route that could cut shipping times to Europe by up to 20 days, freeing Beijing from the shadow of control of Washington’s military fleet.
The biggest turning point in this expansion occurred when European geopolitics shook. Economic isolation and multi-layered sanctions from the West against Russia triggered the birth of a strategic marriage between Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping. Russia, which controls almost half of the Arctic, needs an injection of funds and technology to save its liquefied natural gas project (Liquefied Natural Gas) their giants on the Yamal Peninsula.
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This is where Beijing steps in as a savior, taking over massive holdings and securing its long-term energy supplies, while establishing a strong influence in the Arctic.
This combination of China’s financial power and Russia’s territorial sovereignty immediately raised the alarm at the Pentagon. The United States and its NATO allies are starting to realize that civil infrastructure, from observation lasers in Iceland, to deep-sea ports targeted by Chinese entrepreneurs in Norway and Sweden have multiple potential (dual-use).
There is deep concern that beneath the thick layer of Arctic ice, China is preparing a new defense doctrine: the deployment of nuclear submarines as a deterrent to a second wave of attacks (second-strike deterrence).
The battle has now turned into a battle of endurance. While the United States had responded aggressively in diplomatic forums, such as former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo’s strong speech rejecting China’s claim to be a Near-Arctic country, Beijing responded with typical eastern calm. They pulled out giant investments from Alaska and redirected them patiently to Greenland, an autonomous region rich in rare earths (rare earths) which until now has been ignored by Western investment.
Ultimately, the Arctic is no longer just a story about polar bears and climate change. It has transformed into a new chessboard on which Vladimir Putin continues to pave the way for China to strengthen its influence, creating a northern axis of power that is ready to freeze the sole supremacy of the United States in the modern century.***
