The remote archipelago of Svalbard, a frozen frontier twice the size of Belgium, has become the unlikely center of international intrigue. As the ice recedes, revealing potential riches and strategic advantages, an unexpected player has stepped onto the board: China.
The Asian giant has recently turned its gaze towards the remote Norwegian Arctic Archipelago of Svalbard, joining Russia, and is showing keen interest in this icy frontier.
With China, Russia, and even Türkiye (Turkey) intensifying their focus on Svalbard, tensions in the Arctic are heating up. For Norway, China’s newfound interest is more than just a curiosity—it’s a serious ‘national security concern.’
The Dragon’s Arctic Ambition
Despite being thousands of miles from the Arctic Circle, China has audaciously declared itself a “near-Arctic state.”
This bold claim, made in its 2018 Arctic policy, raised eyebrows across the international community. China isn’t just talking about its Arctic ambitions; it’s actively pursuing them—right on the icy terrain of Svalbard.
Last week, a Chinese delegation, including members from the Chinese Arctic and Antarctic Administration (CAA) and the Polar Research Institute from China (PRIC), made a significant move by visiting the Russian science center in Barentsburg, Svalbard.
This visit was not just a friendly call; it was a clear signal of China’s intent to deepen its Arctic research, particularly through expanded cooperation with Russia.
China’s Arctic ambitions aren’t going unnoticed. In a defensive maneuver, Norway recently blocked the sale of Søre Fagerfjord, a 60-square-kilometer property in Svalbard listed for $326 million.
The Norwegian government’s swift action was aimed at preventing China from acquiring the land under the 1920 Svalbard Treaty, highlighting the growing unease over China’s Arctic aspirations.
The Yellow River Flows North
At the heart of China’s Arctic strategy lies the Yellow River Station, established in 2003 in Ny-Ålesund, the world’s northernmost civilian settlement. This research facility, focusing on atmospheric studies, climate change, and glaciology, serves as China’s eyes and ears in the Arctic.
In 2023, China placed acoustic listening buoys in the North Sea and ramped up its research activities in Ny-Ålesund. This summer, China made an unprecedented move by deploying three icebreakers to the Arctic, including its most advanced vessel, Xue Long 2.
These icebreakers are part of China’s latest Arctic expedition, reflecting its growing interest in the region, especially as it collaborates with Russia on the Northern Sea Route (NSR).
China’s scientific endeavors in Svalbard align with its broader goal to deepen its understanding of the Arctic environment and climate change. While this research contributes to global scientific knowledge, it also equips China with strategic insights that could shape its decisions in the region.
A Crowded Arctic Stage: China, Russia & Turkey
China isn’t the only player vying for influence in Svalbard.
Long known for its strategic location near the Arctic Ocean, Svalbard has recently attracted heightened attention from China, Turkey, and Russia.
In the past two months, these countries have sent research delegations to Svalbard, signaling their intent to collaborate on Arctic studies. Since 2023, Beijing and Moscow have been working together to develop the Northern Sea Route along Russia’s Arctic coast.
Russia, with its longstanding presence in the region, has been flexing its muscles too. In a controversial move this June, the Russian state-owned mining company Trust Arktikugol raised the Soviet flag in Svalbard, accompanied by the slogan “Peace to the World.”
Not to be left out in the cold, Turkey has also set its sights on Svalbard. The Turkish Arctic Scientific Expedition recently visited Pyramiden, a former mining town in Svalbard, proposing it as a site for an international Arctic station.
Svalbard’s Strategic Significance
Why all this interest in a remote, icy archipelago?
Svalbard is an archipelago situated north of mainland Norway. It spans twice the size of Belgium and lies midway between Norway and the North Pole. Its strategic location offers crucial access to key Arctic sea routes, notably the Northern Sea Route (NSR), which could drastically cut shipping distances between Europe and Asia.
As climate change melts Arctic ice, these routes are becoming more navigable, turning Svalbard into a key hub for Arctic navigation. Its close proximity to Russia’s northern territories and the resource-rich Barents Sea further amplifies its strategic value.
The Svalbard Treaty
China’s activities in Svalbard are framed within the context of the Svalbard Treaty of 1920.
Signed on February 9, 1920, in Paris, the Svalbard Treaty established Norway’s sovereignty over the strategically positioned archipelago between Norway and the North Pole after World War I. The treaty grants signatory countries, including Russia and China, equal rights to commercial activities on Svalbard while affirming Norwegian sovereignty.
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It ensures that all signatories and their citizens have the same resource exploitation rights as Norway and mandates that no country can be treated differently based on nationality. Importantly, the treaty also remilitarized the region, prohibiting the permanent stationing of troops, including Norwegian forces.
Chinese Threat
Some Nordic nations are growing increasingly concerned about the potential risks posed by China’s activities in the Arctic, especially given its cooperation with Russia.
According to a recent report published by ‘Svalbardposten,’ Norway’s Police Security Service (PST) has noted a surge in Chinese interest in Svalbard.
Their 2024 national threat assessment highlights the presence of Chinese students and researchers on the archipelago, suggesting that their activities may be normalizing Chinese influence and aiding intelligence operations.
In recent years, China has also made multiple attempts to purchase Norwegian properties, including housing, cabins, and commercial real estate, and has expressed interest in establishing a laser station in Adventdalen.
Norway’s Countermove
China’s expanding footprint in Svalbard and the Arctic is stirring unease among Arctic states, particularly regarding the risk of increased geopolitical competition and militarization.
Norway, a NATO member, is at the forefront of these concerns. The NATO alliance is wary of the potential military uses of Russia-China Arctic expansion.
In response to these growing threats, Norway has taken steps to regulate scientific activities in Svalbard. A new white paper aims to curb the establishment of new research and educational centers in the region, while the proposed Svalbard Research Office is designed to oversee and coordinate foreign study projects.
As Arctic ice continues to retreat, Svalbard’s geopolitical heat is on the rise. With China making audacious moves, Russia reasserting its influence, and NATO keeping a watchful eye, this remote archipelago has become a crucial player on the global stage.
- Shubhangi Palve is a defense and aerospace journalist. Before joining the EurAsian Times, she worked for E.T. Prime. In this capacity, she focused on covering defense strategies and the defense sector from a financial perspective. She offers over 15 years of extensive experience in the media industry, spanning print, electronic, and online domains.
- Contact the author at shubhapalve (at) gmail.com
