Sino-Russian Frenemies in the Arctic: A Friendship as Fragile as Glaciers

The rapid melting of glaciers which in recent years has changed the Arctic environment, has opened the door to the marketing of products from the north of the world. The possibility of reducing the duration of sea voyages for ships going between Asia and Europe has led many nations to increase investments and therefore their presence in regions including China. In the past decade, China has intensified cooperation with Russia in the Arctic through investments in infrastructure, research, technology, collaborations and international trade agreements. Until now, the Sino-Russian plans in the area were seen as solid and long-term, thanks to mutual interests (economic/military for Russia and commercial for China). However, as this research presents, new factors such as the Ukraine crisis, sanctions and international isolation for Russia, China’s willingness to expand trade to the West (especially with Europe and Canada) and its determination to become a key player in the area, as well as mutual suspicions related to national and international interests, show how Sino-Russian cooperation is not as stable as presented. It is under threat from personal clashes between the Kremlin and Beijing that increase distances rather than fosters friendships, further isolating Russia, and leading China to cooperate with new Arctic actors, such as Iceland, Canada and some Scandinavian countries.