While American media called Republican President-elect Donald Trump a “madman” for suggesting he may purchase or “invade” Greenland, China is slowly building up a fresh maritime Silk Road in the Arctic Ocean with Russia’s support.  ,
The United States of America believes that the ownership and control of Greenland is an absolute necessity for purposes of regional security and freedom throughout the world, according to Trump in an X article on December 22, 2024.
He stated to the media on January 7 that he would not act out using military or economic force to occupy the automatic Norwegian territory.
Trump stated in August 2019 that, for proper reasons, he was considering purchasing Greenland. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen at the time stated that Greenland was not for sales and that Trump’s request was “absurd.” Trump called Frederiksen’s responses “nasty”.
At that time, the 2022 Ukrainian-Russian battle had not yet broken out and China-European Union connections were however relatively stable.
The Chinese state released” China’s Arctic Policy” in January 2018, outlining its strategy for “using Arctic sources in a lawful and moral manner.”
Those laws include:
- China’s involvement in the creation of Arctic shipping roads
- Participating in the investigation for and oppression of oil, gas, material and other non-living sources
- assisting in the restoration and use of fishing and different living things
- Participating in developing hospitality resources
” China is a significant player in Arctic interests. Geographically, China is a’ Near-Arctic State’, one of the western States that are closest to the Arctic Circle”, the Taiwanese authorities said in the policy statement.  ,
” China has long been involved in Arctic matters. In 1925, China joined the Spitsbergen ( Svalbard ) Treaty and started to participate in addressing the Arctic affairs”, it added.
” Since therefore, China has exerted more work in the investigation of the Arctic, expanding the scope of actions, gaining more experience and deepening cooperation with other members”.
China has made significant progress over the past seven times in putting its Arctic plans into practice.
For instance, NewNew Shipping Line, a Chinese business that has collaborated with Russia, completed seven containership excursions between Asia and Europe via the Arctic Ocean in the second quarter of 2023. Last July, it launched a fresh Arctic way supporting Shanghai to St Petersburg.
A Shanxi-based journalist says the US suddenly recognized that China and Russia have joined forces to release the Northern Sea Route, or Ice Silk Road, which among other things, may lessen China’s Malacca Strait issue, but it’s too late now.
The Northern Sea Route has been overlooked by many people, but it is now catching China’s interest thanks to its distinctive geographical benefits, the author claims.  ,
This route follows East Asia to Europe along the Russian Arctic coastline, which is cut by a third the way through the Strait of Malacca and the Suez Canal, he adds. A shorter tour results in lower costs, according to the author.” This is undoubtedly a wonderful advantage for China.”
China’s fuel supply will immediately experience a significant problem if one morning the US attempts to block the Strait of Malacca through defense methods. Thus, developing the Northern Sea Route is not only to save time and costs, but more importantly, to open up another backbone for China’s electricity protection”.
Foreign explorer Gao Dengyi read about the Svalbard Treaty in a guide while visiting Norway in 1991, according to a writer from Shandong who claims China had failed to conduct any scientific research at both the North and South Poles for many years.  ,
The author claims that in the past, American capitalist countries led by the US had used various excuses to obstruct our study at the North and South Poles. We had asked for assistance from international companies and requested to use land from our neighbors. However, Gao’s Norway journey would only be able to solve this issue.
He claims that the Svalbard Treaty authorized China to conduct clinical studies at the North Pole, which led to the establishment of China’s second Arctic research facility, Yellow River Station, in Svalbard, Norway, in 2004.  ,
14 nations formally ratified the Svalbard Treaty in 1920. Svalbard is a part of Norway, whereas other nations have the right to conduct clinical studies on the North Pole.
In 1925, Duan Qirui, mind of the Beiyang state, dominated by rulers in northwestern China, was forced by the West to sign the treaty. Due to the fact that China was at the time of its civil war, he allegedly did not take the time to thoroughly comprehend what he had signed.
Like Trump, China has an eye on Greenland’s proper importance in the Arctic. In 2018, Chinese state-owned contractor China Communications Construction Company (CCCC ) bid to build airports in Greenland, but it withdrew the bid in 2019.
Some Chinese clients had even marketed personal property in Svalbard, but the Norwegian government stopped the sale last July on national security grounds.  ,
The first meeting of the subcommittee on Arctic shipping routes in Saint Petersburg was held on November 25, 2012, by China’s Minister of Transport Liu Wei and Russia’s State Atomic Energy Corporation ( Rosatom ) General Manager Alexey Likhachev.
Both sides agreed to further explore shipping development, transportation security and polar deliver technology and building.  ,
The US Congress ‘ Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party (CCP ) expressed concerns about China’s expanding presence in the Arctic in a letter sent to the US Pentagon in October.  ,
As a result of an arms race that may increase shipping insurance rates in the region, Elizabeth Buchanan, a top fellow at the Australian Strategic Policy Institute and expert on polar politics, told Nikkei Asia.
Yong Jian contributes to the Asia Times. He is a Chinese blogger who specializes in Chinese technologies, economy and politics.  ,
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