China moves to become major Arctic player

A new report by a leading European think-tank says China is “paying increasing attention to the consequences of the melting of the ice in the Arctic” and positioning itself for an influential role in the emerging realm of polar geopolitics, says vancouversun.com The “groundbreaking” study by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, partly funded by the Norwegian government, also revealed that Canada has already engaged in bilateral meetings with the Asian superpower to confront potential issues arising from the recent record-setting retreat of Arctic sea ice, which has raised the prospect of increased shipping and oil development in the region.