What does China's new Arctic policy mean for Canada?

On Friday, China released a white paper describing its Arctic policy in a rare public move.

The policy outlines plans to develop shipping routes, expand its research programs, pursue environmental protection and develop resources across the Arctic.

"I'm a little shocked," said University of Calgary associate professor Robert Huebert.

"The Chinese do not issue white papers. This clearly illustrated how important the Arcticis to the Chinese."

Experts saythe policy is attempting to tread a line between respecting the sovereignty of Arctic nations, like Canada and the United States,and leaving room to gain from disputes in international law.

Like the Arctic Council, thedocument specifically refers to the rights of the Indigenous peoples of the Arctic. It alsoreferencesenvironmental protection, scientific researchand international cooperation.

But it also repeatedly comes backto respect for international law, a choice thatHuebertand UniversitLaval professorFrdricLasserre view as an attempt to articulate limits onArctic states' sovereignty.

It's this ambiguity over what China wants to do in the Arctic that's a bittroubling.-FrdricLaserre, professor at UniversitLaval

For example, the United States views the Northwest Passage as an "international strait" while Canada sees it as "internal waters" a semantic differencethat could mean major changes in how the waterway is managed and who has the rightto use it.

Lasserre isco-author ofChina's Arctic Ambitions and What They Mean for Canada, a book coincidentally also released on Friday.

"We don't know how China places the hierarchy between Arctic states and international law," Lasserre said.

"It's this ambiguity over what China wants to do in the Arctic that's a bittroubling."

Huebertsaid China is especially interested in issues of sovereignty and access to shipping lanes, asgrowing andmaintainingArctic shipping is a "core Arctic interest."

A 'Near-Arctic state'?

China refers to itself as a "near-Arctic state" throughout the policy document.

The term that has no formal legal meaning.

However, it's been used in the past by non-Arctic countries that wereeagerto gain Arctic Council observer status.

China gained that status in 2013.

India has takenthat a step further when applying for observer status, saying that its prehistoricgeological connection to Antarctica qualifiesit as a polar nation.

LasserresaidChina'sArctic ambitions havelargely been carriedout thus far in Russia with investments in a liquefied natural gasproject in the Yamaloilfield and more interest in the Northern Sea Route by Russia than Canada's Northwest Passage.

New investments, new risks

But just last year, the Chinese icebreaker Xue Longcompleted a transit ofthe Northwest Passage.

Be careful what you wish for.- Robert Huebert,University of Calgary professor

In addition, Chinese state-ownedfirms have made tentative forays into Canadian mining.

The policy paper specifically refers to an increase in Chinese Arctic tourism, something Yellowknife has been an example of in recent years.

In 2016, Chinese tourists outnumbered Japanesefor the first time ever in Yellowknife.

• Chinese tourists to Yellowknife eclipse Japanese
• N.W.T. needs to get ready for influx of Chinese tourists, says tour operator

"They are clearly, clearly aware that there are new opportunities for investment in this region,"Huebertsaid,adding thatinviting Chinese investment in the Canadian Arctic couldbe a double-edged sword.

"Be careful what you wish for," he said.

"If the Chinese do start investing more [in Canada], if the Chinese do start sending more shipping outside of the obvious economic benefits that would provide what are some of the longer-term impacts in regards to the environment? In regards to the communities?"

'What do you intend to do?'

BothHuebert and Lasserresay the document is notable, in part, for what it leaves out.

"We're starting to see a little bit of Chinese naval activity, especially around the fringes of the Arctic, and that's always something that we have to keep an eye on,"Huebert said.

Canada hasbegun making investments in its Arctic surveillance and security systems, including a new network of listening posts and the first ofthe HarryDeWolf Class Arctic and Offshore Patrol Ships currently nearing completionin Halifax.

For Lasserre, the solution is to keep a running dialogue as questions arise across the Arctic.

"I think that's what Arctic states should do in the future: ask clearly, 'What do you intend to do?'"