By Meng Hao, Vision Times
As geopolitical tensions extend into polar regions, a Canadian think tank is warning that the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) is expanding its presence in the Arctic, potentially posing long-term challenges and concerns for Canada’s national security and sovereignty.
A new report released by the China Strategic Risks Institute (CSRI) argues that Ottawa must urgently address what it describes as “strategic vulnerabilities” in the Arctic, particularly in areas such as surveillance, foreign investment screening, scientific cooperation, and influence over international narratives.
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The report, titled “Closing Strategic Gaps in the Face of China’s Expanding Influence in the Canadian Arctic” states that Beijing has steadily increased its Arctic activities through economic cooperation, scientific research, and diplomatic engagement. According to the report, China’s growing partnership with Russia has further complicated the security environment in the region.
Beijing’s strategic push
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Canadian Conservative Member of Parliament Shuv Majumdar also raised concerns in a post on X, warning that China, despite not being an Arctic nation, is advancing into Canada’s northern regions through a range of strategic tools. He wrote that Beijing is moving northward through what he described as “weaponized commercial activity, scientific expeditions, and dual-use infrastructure.”
Majumdar also warned that while the Canadian government continues to debate policy frameworks and timelines, the CCP is already acting with a clear long-term strategy. He said Canada must quickly close existing gaps in order to defend its Arctic sovereignty.
The CSRI report argues that the Arctic is undergoing a fundamental transformation. As climate change accelerates the melting of Arctic sea ice, new shipping routes are becoming increasingly accessible. While this creates economic opportunities, it also raises the region’s strategic importance.
The report notes that the Arctic, once viewed largely as a zone of cooperation, is rapidly becoming an arena of great-power competition. Though China has no territorial claims in the Arctic, analysts say Beijing seeks long-term influence through participation in governance structures, access to natural resources, and use of emerging shipping routes.
‘Near-Arctic state’
In recent years, Beijing has repeatedly described itself as a “near-Arctic state.” In its 2018 Arctic policy white paper, China characterized the Arctic as part of a “global commons” and framed its engagement as contributing to what it calls a “community with a shared future for mankind.”
Some Western analysts believe this narrative is intended to establish legitimacy for China’s growing involvement in Arctic affairs and normalize participation by non-Arctic states. A commentary previously published by Asia Times noted that the concept of a “near-Arctic state” has no formal definition under international law.
Some observers have compared Beijing’s approach to its behavior in other territorial disputes. One analyst described China’s claims in the South China Sea, East China Sea, and along the China-India border as resembling “a heavyset diner at a buffet table declaring everything, from roast beef to chocolate puffs, as his own.”
4 key vulnerabilities
The CSRI report identifies four major weaknesses in Canada’s current Arctic security framework.
- Limited surveillance and domain awareness
Canada’s northern monitoring systems are aging, and modernization efforts under the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) have progressed slowly. This leaves Canada with limited ability to detect unconventional threats in the region.
- Gaps in investment screening
The report notes that Canada’s Investment Canada Act does not fully cover certain scenarios, such as foreign companies proposing infrastructure investments directly to local governments or Indigenous communities. This could allow foreign actors to gain influence over strategically important facilities.
- Risks in scientific cooperation
China frequently uses what the report calls “scientific diplomacy” to conduct polar research and collect data. In some cases, these research facilities and technologies may have dual civilian-military applications. Though Canada has strengthened oversight of international research cooperation in recent years, the report says coordination among government agencies remains insufficient.
- Narrative and governance competition
The report also warns that Canada lacks a comprehensive strategy for Arctic public diplomacy and strategic communication. Meanwhile, Beijing actively shapes international discourse through media outlets, academic partnerships, and global forums — efforts that may gradually influence how Arctic governance is understood internationally, analysts note.
China-Russia cooperation raises concerns
The report also highlights growing cooperation between China and Russia in Arctic affairs. Analysts note that China has provided Russia with economic and material support during the Ukraine war, while Moscow may offer Beijing access to polar infrastructure and technical expertise.
Researchers say China has also promoted the concept of a “Polar Silk Road,” incorporating Arctic shipping routes into its broader Belt and Road Initiative. By shortening maritime routes between Asia and Europe, Beijing hopes to expand its economic presence while gaining access to Arctic resources and emerging shipping corridors.
The Canadian government has begun paying greater attention to Arctic security in recent years. Policy documents from Canada’s foreign ministry warn that the region faces rising risks, including increased Russian military activity and the deployment of Chinese research vessels and monitoring platforms with potential dual-use capabilities. Canada has also signed the Icebreaker Collaboration Effort (ICE Pact) with the United States and Finland to strengthen polar shipbuilding capacity and counter growing Russian and Chinese influence.
However, the CSRI report argues that current measures remain insufficient. China already operates polar research vessels and deep-sea monitoring systems, technologies that are actively deployed rather than merely theoretical.
Forging stronger alliances
The report concludes with several policy recommendations, including expanding Arctic surveillance systems, strengthening foreign investment screening, protecting Indigenous communities from unregulated foreign investment, and deepening military and technological cooperation with allies.
It also calls for greater collaboration with countries such as the United States, Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Denmark, including joint Arctic facilities and military exercises. Researchers warn that Canada’s ability to defend its Arctic sovereignty will depend not only on military capacity but also on coordination between federal authorities, local governments, and Indigenous communities.
The report concludes with an ominous warning: The Arctic’s strategic environment is changing rapidly, and the window for action is narrowing. If Canada fails to address existing vulnerabilities, outside powers, including the CCP, may gradually expand their influence in the region.
Analysts also say that as global shipping routes, energy resources, and geopolitical rivalries evolve, the Arctic is increasingly likely to become a major arena of international strategic competition.
