Development and utilization of mineral resources in the Arctic and China’s strategic countermeasures

Authors

Yina SU, Chinese Academy of Natural Resources Economics, Beijing 101149, ChinaFollow

Keywords

the Arctic region; oil and gas; strategic minerals; resource security; international competitiveness

Document Type

Policy & Management Research

Abstract

There are abundant strategic mineral resources as oil, gas, iron ore, copper, and nickel in the Arctic region. If the Arctic routes can be opened in the future, they will become another important transportation channels connecting the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans, following the Panama Canal and the Suez Canal, which may reshape the world’s maritime trade and transportation pattern. With the development of science and technology, increase in mineral resources consumption and changes in the international environment, the strategic position of the Arctic region is increasingly elevated, and the United States, Russia and some other countries of the European Union are engaging in fierce competition in above-mentioned region. At present, the Arctic continent is owned by eight Arctic countries and territorial sovereignty is clear. However, there still is a development space in public sea. In the future, there will be many strategic opportunities for China in areas of energy and minerals development and utilization, expanding new resources space, reshaping maritime transport channel, becoming a minerals and maritime power of the world, improving resource security level, and enhancing international status. It is necessary to strengthen research on participating in international affairs and exploiting energy and minerals in the Arctic region, which lays foundation for national development.

First page

193

Last Page

203

Language

Chinese

Publisher

Bulletin of Chinese Academy of Sciences

References

1 Liu G Z, Xu Q H, Chen Y S. Oil & gas resources and cooperation opportunities on the “Ice Silk Road”. China oil & gas, 2019(2): 24-27.

2 Кондратьев B. Б. Минеральные ресурсы и будущее Арктики. Горная промышленность, 2020 (1): 87-96. Kondratyev V. B. Mineral Resources and Future of the Arctic . Mining Industry, 2020 (1): 87-96. (in Russian)

3 刘贵洲, 徐刚. 关于中俄油气合作几个战略性问题的思考. 国际石油经济, 2016(10): 8-12. Liu G Z, Xu G. Strategic issues on Sino-Russia oil and gas cooperation. International petroleum economics, 2016(10): 8-12. (in Chinese)

4 庄博雯. 2017年以来中俄北极合作研究. 哈尔滨: 黑龙江大学, 2023. Zhuang B W. Research on Chinese-Russian Cooperation in the Arctic since 2017. Harbin: Heilongjiang University, 2023. (in Chinese)

Recommended Citation

SU, Yina (2024) "Development and utilization of mineral resources in the Arctic and China’s strategic countermeasures," Bulletin of Chinese Academy of Sciences (Chinese Version): Vol. 40 : Iss. 1 , Article 18.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.16418/j.issn.1000-3045.20240607001
Available at: https://bulletinofcas.researchcommons.org/journal/vol40/iss1/18