China in the Arctic: less fish, more oil?

摘要

It may be a long way from home but China is muscling its way into the Arctic, cosying up to countries that line the Arctic Ocean. So what does this mean for the environment? In May, the nations of the Arctic Council opened the door to six non-Arctic states, including China. Although mostly symbolic - they were admitted as observers so don't get an official say - for China, it was the culmination of years spent trying to gain a foothold in the region. Last year, China's icebreaker Xue Long, or Snow Dragon, traversed the Northern Sea Route through Russia's territorial waters, accessible because of the receding sea ice.