I wish they wouldn't do this. Those big nuclear icebreakers shuttling back and forth along Russia's North Coast, busting up the sea ice and lowering the albedo of the ice pack aren't doing the Arctic any favors.
From Reuters via gCaptain:
Russia’s state nuclear agency Rosatom has signed a memorandum of understanding with a Chinese shipping company to establish a year-round container line between the two countries via the Arctic’s Northern Sea Route (NSR), it said on Thursday.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has talked up prospects for the Arctic corridor as Russia shifts its trade eastwards in response to Western sanctions over the conflict in Ukraine.
Rosatom said the agreement with China’s Hainan Yangpu NewNew Shipping Co. Ltd would establish a joint venture for the design and construction of container ships and the shared operation of the shipping line....
....MUCH MORE
The Northern Sea Route has been Vladimir Putin's pet project for the last fifteen years so my wishes, one way or the other, probably don't count for much.
For over a decade the Arctic and the Northern Sea Route were Putin's especial interests but now the Russian state doesn't have the financial resources to chase Putin's dream....
If interested see also:
"New state commission takes on Putin’s big plan for the Arctic"I've mentioned that President Putin takes a personal interest in Russia's Arctic doings. Here are a couple posts, almost 11 years apart:
President Putin almost looks upon the Arctic as his pet project, a really large pet project but his, and the fact the government budget can't come up with the loot to pay for the ships is an intriguing insight into Russia's true financial state. I guess even theAutocrat of all the RussiasPresident of Russia has limits....
Russia and the Arctic
"Putin's grand plan for Arctic shipping might wreck in Barents Sea"Previously:
May 2020
Putin Wants to Haul More Fish Along the Northern Sea Route
January 2020
"Moscow adopts 15-year grand plan for Northern Sea Route"
November 2019
Shipping on Northern Sea Route up 63 percent, Putin Smiles
January 2019
Ministry hints Putin’s Arctic ambitions are not realistic
October 2018
"New state commission takes on Putin’s big plan for the Arctic"
May 2018
"It’s an order from the Kremlin: shipping on Northern Sea Route to reach 80 million tons by 2024" March 29, 2018
Russian navy’s Arctic patrol vessels suffer delays of 3-4 years
"Russia seeks Chinese support in developing Arctic shipping routes, promising long-term gas supplies in return"
And many more. Regarding China in the Great White North:
"China’s Emerging Strategies in the Arctic"
"China’s Polar Strategy: An Emerging Gray Zone?"
"Pentagon warns of risk of Chinese submarines in the Arctic"
"Don't Fear China's Arctic Takeover"
"How To Avoid A Naval Cold War In The High North"
Natural Gas: "Chinese oilmen make big discovery in Russian Arctic waters"
"China opens bids for first nuclear-powered icebreaker"
China seeks a more active role in the Arctic
China defines itself as a near-Arctic state and says it will actively participate with wisdom and strength to future protection and development. Roger that, wisdom and strength, over.Flashback, June 2018:
...On the other hand, if you read Xinhua's translation of January's "Full text: China's Arctic Policy" you'll note they call themselves a ‘Near-Arctic state’.Additionally China is couching their interest in terms of research:
This is to counter people like me using the 'non-polar' or 'non-Arctic' phrasing.
States from outside the Arctic region do not have territorial sovereignty in the Arctic, but they do have rights in respect of scientific research, navigation, overflight, fishing, laying of submarine cables and pipelines in the high seas and other relevant sea areas in the Arctic Ocean, and rights to resource exploration and exploitation in the Area, pursuant to treaties such as UNCLOS and general international law. In addition, Contracting Parties to the Spitsbergen Treaty enjoy the liberty of access and entry to certain areas of the Arctic, the right under conditions of equality and, in accordance with law, to the exercise and practice of scientific research, production and commercial activities such as hunting, fishing, and mining in these areas....
Finally, as the ice map embedded in this March 2020 post shows, the ice on the Russian side of the Arctic basin is already thinner than the stuff on the Greenland - Canadian side.
"Aid is on its way to icebreaker struggling near North Pole"Is anyone else starting to get concerned about the Russians busting up the ice with their big boats?
