China Insider China Insider | China's Arctic Strategy, US-Taiwan Trade Deal, PM Carney Visits Beijing
Jan 20, 2026
Discover China's ambitious Arctic strategy, aiming for major influence despite being a non-Arctic state. Learn about the strategic importance of Greenland for U.S. security and China’s partnership with Russia in accessing the Arctic. Unpack the recent U.S.-Taiwan trade agreement, emphasizing its significance in the semiconductor and AI sectors and political ramifications within Taiwan. Finally, delve into Prime Minister Carney's visit to Beijing and its implications for Canada-China relations, including trade adjustments.
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China's Declared Arctic Ambition
- China declared in its 2018 Arctic White Paper that it aims to be a "major Arctic power" by 2030 despite not being an Arctic state.
- Miles Yu warns China frames itself as a "near-Arctic" country to justify long-term economic and political penetration.
Economic Penetration Over Military Presence
- China pursues Arctic influence through economic investment, research stations, and infrastructure rather than overt military occupation.
- Miles Yu argues this long-term economic penetration aims to normalize Chinese dominance and technological dependency.
Greenland's Strategic Value
- Greenland is strategically critical because Arctic flight paths and basing affect U.S. early-warning and missile trajectories toward the East Coast.
- Yu links Chinese-Russian cooperation and Arctic access to serious U.S. homeland defense concerns.