China unveils vision for 'Polar Silk Road' across Arctic

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China unveils vision for 'Polar Silk Road' across Arctic

 

FILE PHOTO: Chinese President Xi Jinping speaks during a joint press briefing with French President Emmanuel Macron, not shown, at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China January 9, 2018. REUTERS/Mark Schiefelbei/Pool

 

BEIJING (Reuters) - China on Friday outlined its ambitions to extend President Xi Jinping's signature Belt and Road Initiative to the Arctic by developing shipping lanes opened up by global warming.

 

Releasing its first official Arctic policy white paper, China said it would encourage enterprises to build infrastructure and conduct commercial trial voyages, paving the way for Arctic shipping routes that would form a "Polar Silk Road".

 

"China hopes to work with all parties to build a 'Polar Silk Road' through developing the Arctic shipping routes," the paper, issued by the State Council Information Office, said.

 

China, despite being a non-Arctic state, is increasingly active in the polar region and became an observer member of the Arctic Council in 2013.

 

Among its increasing interests in the region is its major stake in Russia's Yamal liquefied natural gas project which is expected to supply China with four million tonnes of LNG a year, according to the state-run China Daily.

 

Shipping through the Northern Sea Route would shave almost 20 days off the regular time using the traditional route through the Suez Canal, the newspaper reported last month. COSCO Shipping has also previously sailed vessels through the Arctic's northeast passage.

 

China's increasing prominence in the region has prompted concerns from Arctic states over its long-term strategic objectives, including possible military deployment.

 

"Some people may have misgivings over our participation in the development of the Arctic, worried we may have other intentions, or that we may plunder resources or damage the environment," Vice-Foreign Minister Kong Xuanyou said at a briefing.

 

"I believe these kinds of concerns are absolutely unnecessary."

 

The white paper said China also eyes development of oil, gas, mineral resources and other non-fossil energies, fishing and tourism in the region. It said it would do so "jointly with Arctic States, while respecting traditions and cultures of the Arctic residents including the indigenous peoples and conserving natural environment".

 

China's Belt and Road initiative aims to connect China to Europe, the Middle East and beyond via massive infrastructure projects across dozens of countries, reflecting Xi's desire for China to take on a more prominent global leadership role.

 

(Reporting by Philip Wen; Editing by Nick Macfie)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2018-01-26

[KIWIBATCH]

......."Some people may have misgivings over our participation in the development of the Arctic, worried we may have other intentions, or that we may plunder resources or damage the environment," Vice-Foreign Minister Kong Xuanyou said at a briefing.

"I believe these kinds of concerns are absolutely unnecessary."

The white paper said China also eyes development of oil, gas, mineral resources and other non-fossil energies, fishing and tourism in the region. It said it would do so "jointly with Arctic States, while respecting traditions and cultures of the Arctic residents including the indigenous peoples and conserving natural environment...."

 

I call absolute BS and lies on the above statement.....They have managed to pollute/ruin their own country...rape resources etc etc etc

[thaibeachlovers]

LOL. Abandon hope any that thought China was on board for stopping Climate Change/ Global Warming.

This shows, IMO, that far from wanting to make it colder, China wants to make it hotter so the Arctic melts and they can ship yet more Chinese junk to Europe without having to go the long route.

Edited January 26, 2018 by thaibeachlovers

[BEVUP]

1 hour ago, KIWIBATCH said:

......."Some people may have misgivings over our participation in the development of the Arctic, worried we may have other intentions, or that we may plunder resources or damage the environment," Vice-Foreign Minister Kong Xuanyou said at a briefing.

"I believe these kinds of concerns are absolutely unnecessary."

The white paper said China also eyes development of oil, gas, mineral resources and other non-fossil energies, fishing and tourism in the region. It said it would do so "jointly with Arctic States, while respecting traditions and cultures of the Arctic residents including the indigenous peoples and conserving natural environment...."

 

I call absolute BS and lies on the above statement.....They have managed to pollute/ruin their own country...rape resources etc etc etc

& not forgetting the coral atolls in the Sth China sea - It's always the same ! MONEY

[hansnl]

The world don't want to see that everything China does is strategical.

Not economic strategical but military strategical.

Artificial islands, all Asia railways and roads, politics, trade, investments, it is all strategical, military strategical.

[boomerangutang]

5 minutes ago, hansnl said:

The world don't want to see that everything China does is strategical.

Not economic strategical but military strategical.

Artificial islands, all Asia railways and roads, politics, trade, investments, it is all strategical, military strategical.

.....both for military and commerce.  China wants to increase its dominance ww.  Trump is helping China (and Russia) with each daily utterance and action which debilitates the US. 

 

Thailand is also helping China by allowing China-financed, China-built highways and train routes, ports, and the largest shopping mall in S.E. Asia to built in Thailand.    

[ExpatOilWorker]

18 minutes ago, hansnl said:

The world don't want to see that everything China does is strategical.

Not economic strategical but military strategical.

Artificial islands, all Asia railways and roads, politics, trade, investments, it is all strategical, military strategical.

One day the Peoples Liberation Army will be at our doorstep to liberate us of our freedom or life. 

The Economist have a special report about the future of war. Sobering reading.

[ExpatOilWorker]

20 hours ago, KIWIBATCH said:

......."Some people may have misgivings over our participation in the development of the Arctic, worried we may have other intentions, or that we may plunder resources or damage the environment," Vice-Foreign Minister Kong Xuanyou said at a briefing.

"I believe these kinds of concerns are absolutely unnecessary."

The white paper said China also eyes development of oil, gas, mineral resources and other non-fossil energies, fishing and tourism in the region. It said it would do so "jointly with Arctic States, while respecting traditions and cultures of the Arctic residents including the indigenous peoples and conserving natural environment...."

 

I call absolute BS and lies on the above statement.....They have managed to pollute/ruin their own country...rape resources etc etc etc

Q: How can you tell when a Chinese politician is lying?

 

A: When their lips are moving!

[car720]

3 minutes ago, ExpatOilWorker said:

Q: How can you tell when a Chinese politician is lying?

 

A: When their lips are moving!

Isn't that a quote about western lawyers?