The New York Times.
NUUK, Greenland — With Arctic ice melting at record pace, the world’s
superpowers are increasingly jockeying for political influence and
economic position in outposts like this one, previously regarded as
barren wastelands.
At stake are the Arctic’s abundant supplies of oil, gas and minerals that are, thanks to climate change, becoming newly accessible along with increasingly navigable polar shipping shortcuts. This year, China has become a far more aggressive player in this frigid field, experts say, provoking alarm among Western powers.
While the United States, Russia and several nations of the European
Union have Arctic territory, China has none, and as a result, has been
deploying its wealth and diplomatic clout to secure toeholds in the
region.
