Speakers
Home / Conference / KCIS 2022 / Camilla Tenna Nørup Sorensen
Camilla Tenna Nørup Sorensen
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Ms Camilla T. N. Sørensen, Ph.D. and Associate Professor at the Institute for Strategy and War Studies at the Royal Danish Defense College (RDDC). Her research fields include Geopolitics, Security Studies and Strategy with a specific focus on China, East Asia and the Arctic. She has lived in China for shorter and longer periods over the past 20 years and has published extensively on East Asian security, Chinese foreign and security policy and in recent years on Arctic politics and security with a focus on China. She can be contacted at: caso@fak.dk
Conference Abstract
Is China going to take advantage of a weakened Russia in the Arctic? Discussing the evolving Chinese strategic approach in the Arctic
The presentation focuses on discussing China’s strategic interests – and opportunities – in the Arctic following the Russian invasion of Ukraine. It underlines how the content and focus of Beijing’s Arctic agenda have been changing or broadened in the recent decade as the Chinese domestic focus of establishing China as a leading power within knowledge and innovative new technologies has been further emphasised. It continues to be a priority to establish Chinese presence and influence in the Arctic. However, the Chinese strategic approach of gradually establishing comprehensive relations with Arctic states and stakeholders using e.g. offers of research cooperation, infrastructure projects and trade and investments, has not been successful, which leaves Russia as a gateway for Beijing to the Arctic. The Arctic is an area of growing Russian and Chinese cooperation. The Russia-China joint statement from February 2022 declares that: “The sides agreed to continue consistently intensifying practical cooperation for the sustainable development of the Arctic.” This is the first time that the Arctic is mention in a Russia-China joint statement and it arguably indicates how a weakened Russia increasingly dependent on China is forced to compromise regarding its resistance towards allowing non-Arctic states into the region, including into Arctic governance. The Russian bargain position in relation to China – also in the Arctic – weakens, and with the Arctic Council on pause following the Russian invasion of Ukraine, there is more room for China to push for non-Arctic specific governance. However, the question is how much China is going to take advantage of this – how much of strategic opportunities they assess it to be.
