China’s policy in the Arctic: ambitions and realities

The relevance of the research topic is due to the increasing interest of the PRC in Arctic issues. Despite the fact that China is not one of the Arctic and sub-Arctic states, it plays an active role among non-Arctic players in the issue of internationalization of Arctic governance, seeking to strengthen its voice in Arctic affairs. The purpose of the research is to study the ambitions of Chinese policy in the region. The range of tasks includes issues of the historical, regulatory and legal framework of China’s Arctic policy, discourse in the Chinese scientific community. Based on the results of the study, it was concluded that the Chinese side will actively promote the narrative of the need to transform the Arctic into an important artery of international logistics through the implementation of the Polar Silk Road project, and will focus on the need to internationalize the Arctic region and also expand opportunities for access to natural resources as an attractive asset in the Arctic. In view of the increasing fragmentation of international relations and the “blocking” of the Russian Federation’s activities during its chairmanship of the Arctic Council, the Chinese side is gaining greater opportunities to be involved in the Arctic agenda due to expanded cooperation with the largest Arctic power - Russia.