Deepening China-Russia ties in the Arctic spark NATO concerns

On August 21, a group of Chinese researchers visited the Russian scientific centre in Barentsburg, located in the Arctic. The deepening of cooperation is raising concerns among NATO countries.

China is not only leading in the realm of new technologies. The Middle Kingdom also seeks to deepen cooperation with Russia in the Arctic region. Such moves may worry NATO.

As reported by the American edition of Newsweek, Russia and China have declared their intention to intensify joint scientific activities. "China and Russia are looking to work more closely together in the Arctic, including in science, a senior Chinese official for the polar regions said during a visit to a territory that is part of Norway, in a potential challenge to the NATO member," the weekly reported.

Tiejun Ling, Deputy Director of the Chinese Arctic and Antarctic Administration, visited just after three Chinese icebreakers' voyage in the waters near the North Pole. Newsweek assessed this as a "further sign of China's deepening interest."

It was noted that Tiejun Ling, Deputy Head of the Chinese Arctic and Antarctic Administration, visited right after three Chinese icebreakers navigated waters near the North Pole. Newsweek assessed this event as further evidence of China's increasing interest in this increasingly contested region.

The American "Newsweek," citing information from the Norwegian portal High North News, reports that Chinese scientists discussed the potential of joining research projects carried out in the Russian scientific centre in Barentsburg, a locality in the Norwegian archipelago of Svalbard.

In July, scientists from Turkey also visited Svalbard, where they discussed with the Russian company Trust Arktikugol the possibility of creating a new research centre for BRICS countries (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa) and other allies, such as Turkey. The planned station would be located in the almost deserted Russian settlement of Pyramiden.

"That too could be viewed as a potential challenge to sovereign Norway, which says it has overall control of scientific research in the archipelago where "warlike purposes" are forbidden by treaty. The 1920 treaty offers economic and other access to signatories including Russia and China," we read in "Newsweek."

Last month, the American magazine reported that Chinese scientists operating in Svalbard might be conducting research on potential military applications, including weapons. One of the most important Chinese institutes, which claims to serve the military and collaborates with many units of the Chinese People's Liberation Army, also operates there, wrote "Newsweek."

The Chinese Polar Research Institute has a research station in Ny-Alesund on Svalbard, known as the Yellow River Station. Launched in 2014, the station is part of a Norwegian project to support international scientific cooperation in the natural sciences.