What China is up to in the Arctic(www.economist.com)
32 pointsby andsoitis8 hours ago5 comments
  • aavci7 hours ago
    What are the environmental impacts of this route becoming more and more active?

    More open water means ships can move through places that used to be protected by ice. This would have impact on marine life, fisheries, coastal life.

    • gmuslera6 hours ago
      It will have far more impact in the climate of all the world. Ice reflects sunlight, deep water absorbs it, the rate of the planet heating up rises, positive feedback loops should be scary for a reason. At least for something that is not just a new narrow path but a significant portion of ice cover missing on that general area.
  • yanhangyhy7 hours ago
    just an alternative route other than Malacca when SG stop pretend to be 'neutral'
  • 7 hours ago
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  • wolvoleo7 hours ago
    I'm a bit sceptical. It feels like part of the white house narrative around greenland and conjuring up an image of threats. The link to Russia is weak and the Chinese military purposes are not substantiated ("Some fear China is...")

    I don't think this will make much impact on the EU allies The memory of the made-up WMDs in Iraq is still fresh.

    • Supermancho5 hours ago
      Most northern powers have been looking toward the thawing north passages for decades. The shortest distance from Portland, Maine to St Petersburg is about the width of the US. Greenland is of huge strategic value, holding a similar value to Alaska. The shortening of shipping lanes will shape global economics, as well as stoking the fears of other powers establishing footholds in northern regions, for the foreseeable future.

      China aggressively projects power, with a willingness to spend a large amount of effort (sand islands) for footholds. Notably, by the time the evidence of these artificial islands was observed, it was too late to reconsider. Russia does the same, when they have the resources. The US is not used to doing this and has historically fared poorly. Ofc there is worry.

      • HWR_145 hours ago
        Chinas sand islands are rejected by other countries. They fly over them withouty permission to reaffirm the consider them non-Chinese territory
        • Supermancho5 hours ago
          Power projection is not limited to national expansion. Strong words and casually flying over them, does not change the strategic or physical utility of the islands. The installations are still there.
    • aavci6 hours ago
      The article did have a lot of opinion in it with limited information based on facts.
      • postsantum6 hours ago
        They included the opinion of Kaja Kallas. She reads a lot of books and is very smart (according to her own words)
        • aavci5 hours ago
          I'm not saying it was completely lacking facts. I am more so referring to the less technical language such as "As winter began in the Arctic, China was celebrating a banner year there"