China mixing military and science in Arctic push: Denmark

 

FILE PHOTO: Snow covered mountains rise above the harbour and town of Tasiilaq, Greenland, June 15, 2018. REUTERS/Lucas Jackson/File Photo

 

COPENHAGEN (Reuters) - China's military is increasingly using scientific research in the Arctic as a way into the region, a Danish intelligence service said on Friday, as it warned of intensifying geopolitical rivalry in the Earth's freezing North.

 

Disputes in the Arctic over global warming and access to minerals broke into the open in May when U.S. Secretary Mike Pompeo accused Russia of aggressive behaviour in the polar region and said China's actions must be watched closely.

 

"A great power play is shaping up between Russia, the United States and China, which is increasing the level of tension in the (Arctic) region," the Defence Intelligence Service said in its annual risk assessment report.

 

China, which defines itself as a 'near-Arctic state', has an ambition to gain greater access to untapped resources and faster trade through the Northern Sea Route.

 

In 2017, Beijing included Arctic sea routes in its so-called Belt and Road Initiative, which seeks to strengthen China's ties to the rest of the world through infrastructure projects and research.

 

China has in recent years invested heavily in Arctic research. But Danish Defence Intelligence Service chief Lars Findsen said on Friday that Chinese research expeditions in the Arctic are not just a matter of science but serve a "dual purpose."

 

"We have looked at Chinese research activities in the Arctic, and see that the Chinese military is showing an increasing interest in being part of that," he said.

 

Findsen declined to name specific research expeditions involving the Chinese military, but said examples in recent years signalled a "new development".

 

"It is likely that a part of China's build-up of knowledge about the Arctic and capacity to operate in the Arctic will take place in a collaboration between civilian and military actors," the report said.

 

Denmark has made it a priority to maintain the Arctic as an area of international cooperation and resolve any potential issues through political negotiations between countries with Arctic territory. Greenland, a vast island straddling the North Atlantic and Arctic oceans, is a self-ruling part of Denmark.

 

But Denmark's goal has become harder to achieve as Russia in particular is strengthening its military capabilities there, the intelligence report said.

 

"This is an essential driving force for several other Arctic coastal states starting to strengthen their (own) regional military capabilities," it said.

 

The report also said a new U.S. Arctic strategy published in June this year combined with public comments from high level government and defence officials, have also contributed to heightened tension in the region.

 

Increased U.S. interest in the Arctic became apparent in August when President Donald Trump suggested buying Greenland from Denmark, an idea quickly dismissed by the Danish and regional Greenland governments.

 

(Reporting by Nikolaj Skydsgaard and Jacob Gronholt-Pedersen; additional reporting by Stine Jacobsen; Editing by Mark Heinrich and Gareth Jones)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2019-11-30

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Nothing news about this.

Has been going on for a looooongggg time.

Russia US China are 3 heavy weights forcing themselves upon the arctic area.

Canada is also in the race - but more civil than the 3 big ones.

 

Greenland is a sovereign area.

 

The island group east of Greenland, Svalbard (or Spitzbergen as most, wrongly, call it) is not a sovereign area,

its a "free for all" area governed by Norwegian law.

Russia is well represented there.

 

1 hour ago, melvinmelvin said:

 

 

Greenland is a sovereign area.

 

The island group east of Greenland, Svalbard (or Spitzbergen as most, wrongly, call it) is not a sovereign area,

its a "free for all" area governed by Norwegian law.

Russia is well represented there.

 

Well, to make something clear. We do not want to spreed misinformation, do we.

Svalbard is a sovereign part of Norway according the Spitsbergen treaty. No doubt about that. But access to exploration of some natural resources is open for other states. As you see the Russians do with mining in barentsburg.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Svalbard_Treaty

Edited November 30, 20196 yr by Sattphalat

China has no legal rights in this arctic area. They are not member of "the arctic council".

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arctic_Council

china is only invited as an “ observer” and is not recognized as one of the arctic states.
 

To understand The Chinese Strategic in foreign politics it may useful to read the book “the art of war”.  Informative .

 

Edited November 30, 20196 yr by Sattphalat

1 hour ago, Sattphalat said:

Well, to make something clear. We do not want to spreed misinformation, do we.

Svalbard is a sovereign part of Norway according the Spitsbergen treaty. No doubt about that. But access to exploration of some natural resources is open for other states. As you see the Russians do with mining in barentsburg.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Svalbard_Treaty

 

well, the sovereignty is the governance by Norwegian law (to an extent) and that is it

Svalbard IS NOT a part of Norway but a heap of islands up north where the governance is Norwegian law

 

the area is pretty open to anyody - not only for exploration of some natural resources

the islands are brilliantly placed for tracking SATs in polar orbits and taking down information

some countries benefit from that

 

my main point is really that Svalbard is NOT a piece of Norway

several aspects of Norwegian law are not enforced there

ie because it is not Norway and the governance must be done smoothly without sharp edges

 

In Greenland any US or Chinese or Russian activity can be disallowed and ruled out,

not so when it comes to Svalbard

 <insert countries name here> research expeditions in the Arctic are not just a matter of science but serve a "dual purpose."

FIFY

 

5 hours ago, Sattphalat said:

china is only invited as an “ observer” and is not recognized as one of the arctic states.

the position of china geographically would have me asking if this is a round eye ruling that has no relevance other than writing on a piece of paper?

8 hours ago, rooster59 said:

China, which defines itself as a 'near-Arctic state',

China has also defined itself as an 'mostly-Alpine Village' and is making now incursions into Switzerland

11 hours ago, rooster59 said:

China, which defines itself as a 'near-Arctic state', has an ambition to gain greater access to untapped resources and faster trade through the Northern Sea Route.

Speaks volumes as China tries to force it's dominance of future trade routes and access to rare elements for it's home production.

I pray for a new ice age where the route will not become available for the last paradise on earth to be exploited by capitalism.

Uncle Sam should think/estimate this moment when they signed and agreed moving of industries to China. Now, Chines got money & stollen technology. Basically a copy of any thing you name it. 

China officially identify itself as a near artic nation. If you don't believe it look it up.  

 

What something like this means is that if they would have the power to enforce it they could in their own eyes justify claiming land anywhere in the world. 

 

That's why the CCP should be held short on all levels. If they get the power to enforce their will the same way the US can they will go much much further than we've seen the Americans do and probaly ever will. 

 

 

33 minutes ago, The Theory said:

Uncle Sam should think/estimate this moment when they signed and agreed moving of industries to China. Now, Chines got money & stollen technology. Basically a copy of any thing you name it. 

And it will probaly be recorded as the biggest own goal made in the history of civilizations. US and western countries demolished their own hegemony because of corporations greed. 

38 minutes ago, The Theory said:

Uncle Sam should think/estimate this moment when they signed and agreed moving of industries to China. Now, Chines got money & stollen technology. Basically a copy of any thing you name it. 

Quantum communication? Dark side landing? Worlds fastest supercomputer?

China is like a snake in the grass...

 

If you don't keep an eye on it, it will slither right into your house and claim it.

The Chins are outta Control...

Off-topic post removed.