Polar Silk Road (initiative)
China's Polar Silk Road is a plan to build a series of new polar shipping routes, part of their belt and road initiative.[1][2][3]
According to Reuters China's announcement of this initiative was prompted by the realization that global warming opened opportunities to exploit.[4]
According to an update China published in March, 2021, their 2021 five year plan includes concrete progress in the plan.[5]
Some sources assert that China's Polar Silk Road plan calls for China to build a new conventionally powered Polar Class icebreaker in addition to a nuclear powered icebreaker to be known as the Polar Silk Road.[6] China is also planning to build an ice-protected heavy-lift semi-submersible vessel. It would be used to carry and install drilling platforms for petroleum extraction.
References
- ↑ Jane Nakano (2018-02-02). "China Launches the Polar Silk Road". Center for Strategic & International Studies. Archived from the original on 2021-10-28. https://web.archive.org/web/20211028101907/https://www.csis.org/analysis/china-launches-polar-silk-road. Retrieved 2021-11-13. "Third, the ability to transit through Arctic waters may enhance the security environment for Chinese ships."
- ↑ "Full text: China's Arctic Policy". The State Council Information Office of the People's Republic of China. 2018-01-26. Archived from the original on 2021-10-20. https://web.archive.org/web/20211020085931/http://www.scio.gov.cn/zfbps/32832/Document/1618243/1618243.htm. Retrieved 2021-11-13. "The State Council Information Office of the People's Republic of China published a white paper titled "China's Arctic Policy" on Friday."
- ↑ Liu Zhen (2021-11-13). "China to develop new heavy icebreaker for ‘Polar Silk Road’". South China Morning Post (Beijing). Archived from the original on 2021-11-23. https://web.archive.org/web/20211123110506/https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3155860/china-develop-new-heavy-icebreaker-polar-silk-road. Retrieved 2021-11-13. "The heavy icebreaker is to be used for rescues along China’s “Polar Silk Road” trade route, part of its global infrastructure Belt and Road Initiative."
- ↑ Philip Wen; Nick Macfie (2018-01-26). "China unveils vision for 'Polar Silk Road' across Arctic". Reuters (Beijing). Archived from the original on 2021-11-08. https://web.archive.org/web/20211108145207/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-china-arctic-idUSKBN1FF0J8. Retrieved 2021-11-13. "China on Friday outlined its ambitions to extend President Xi Jinping’s signature Belt and Road Initiative to the Arctic by developing shipping lanes opened up by global warming."
- ↑ David Stanway; Shri Navaratnam (2021-03-04). "China pledges to build 'Polar Silk Road' over 2021-2025". Reuters (Shanghai). Archived from the original on 2021-10-21. https://web.archive.org/web/20211021022059/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-china-parliament-polar-idUSKBN2AX09F. Retrieved 2021-11-13. "China will construct a “Polar Silk Road” and actively participate in the development of Arctic and Antarctic regions, it said in its new 2021-2025 “five-year plan” published on Friday."
- ↑ Jeremy Greenwood (2021-11-22). "Opinion: The Polar Silk Road Will be Cleared With Chinese Icebreakers". Maritime Executive. Archived from the original on 2021-11-23. https://web.archive.org/web/20211123030837/https://www.maritime-executive.com/editorials/opinion-the-polar-silk-road-will-be-cleared-with-chinese-icebreakers. Retrieved 2021-11-23. "Meanwhile, China’s Ministry of Transport has announced that they will develop a new heavy icebreaker and a new heavy-lift semi-submersible vessel capable of salvaging and rescuing vessels in the Arctic. This would supplement their two existing icebreakers and be in addition to reports of their development of a nuclear-powered icebreaker."