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| ANALYSIS OF THE STRATEGIC IMPACT OF ENVIRONMENTAL CHANGE IN THE ARCTIC ON CHINA |
| LU Jun-yuan |
| Jiangnan Social University, Suzhou 215124, China |
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Abstract In recent years, the Chinese academia has strengthened the research of the Arctic strategy, and the relationship between the geopolitics in the Arctic region and China's strategy has gradually become an important topic in the agenda of China's Arctic research. This article analyzes the strategic influences of the new changes of strategic environment in the Arctic upon the world and China from three levels of the world ocean transportation, the regional economic interaction and geostrategic relationship. The main conclusions of this research are:(1) The opening of the Arctic sea routes will change the patterns of the world ocean transportation in a certain degree. Once the Arctic passages opened completely, the new shipping routes will provide China opportunities for its foreign trade, regional economic development, Marine economic development and construction of Marine power. At the same time, it will bring China more problems and challenges to deal with new international relations, national strategy and foreign policies. This maybe caused complexity and passivity to China's marine strategy.(2) As the development feasibility of resources in the Arctic region increasing greatly, China's economic and social development is facing opportunities. The Arctic region may become a new region for China's procurement of resources and geo-economic participation. In addition,there are strong complementary relationship between China's economic development and the economic-social development in the Arctic region from the point of regional economic relations. So, the Arctic will become the new partner of China's economic activities and the new strategic space for China's development in the future.(3) The environment change in the Arctic has significantly changed its geopolitical features.These will further change the geostrategic structures at the global level, regional level and national level. As the Arctic region becomes a new area of geopolitics and geo-economy, China's interests in this region will grow at greatly, and increasing linkages will emerge between China and the Arctic in the future. Therefore,China needs to rethink the strategic relations between China and the Arctic region within new vision, make a long term plan for China's national strategy and marine strategy related to the Arctic.
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Received: 15 May 2014
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2014, Vol. 29 
