Editor's Note: Seymur Mammadov is the director of the international expert club EurAsiaAz and editor-in-chief of Azerbaijan news agency Vzglyad.az. The article reflects the author's opinions, and not necessarily the views of CGTN.

The American expert community is sounding the alarm that the U.S. interests are at risk of facing a "nightmare" in the Arctic in the form of cooperation between China and Russia. The American analytical publication The National Interest published an article in which the prospect of a joint Russian-Chinese challenge to American interests in the Arctic was called a "techno-thriller nightmare." 

The columnist for this publication, Michael Lyons, came to the conclusion that Washington today is not in a position to properly rebuff the Arctic ideas of China and Russia. One of the main reasons, according to the author of the article, is the presence of only two icebreakers on the balance of the U.S. Coast Guard, while China has two icebreakers, and the Russian fleet has at least 40 such ships, and by 2035 there will be 13 nuclear-powered ships more.

In fact, the United States' big concern is not so much with the number of icebreakers in Russia or China, but rather with the implementation of a megaproject called the Silk Road on the Ice. In 2017, Chinese President Xi Jinping called on Russia to cooperate in the Arctic for the joint implementation of the Silk Road on the Ice. This project is understood as a route in the northern direction connecting China with Europe, which runs through the Arctic Ocean, that is, the creation and development of the shortest route from the Pacific to the Atlantic through the Arctic is envisaged.

In general, Western media often write that China wants to claim the role of the main actor in the development of the Arctic, that China is allegedly investing in Arctic projects with ill intentions.

Why should China stay away from participating in Arctic projects? Just because it has no outlet to the Arctic Ocean? But Japan and India also do not have access to this ocean and are no less interested in participating in the development of Arctic natural resources than China. For example, Tokyo is interested in using the potential of the Northern Sea Route, developing natural resources, gaining control over fish resources and plankton organisms in the Arctic. In turn, New Delhi is discussing the possibility of cooperating in the Arctic LNG project "Novateka" and producing liquefied natural gas in the region. For some reason, Western countries and the media prefer to keep silent about the fact that these countries do not have access to the Arctic Ocean, that they are interested in gaining control over the natural resources of the Arctic.

It is also important to understand that China, like many countries, is interested in diversifying sea routes to avoid any potential risks. The implementation of the Silk Road on the Ice will reduce risks to a minimum during sea transportation of goods. Today, for trade, Chinese ships pass through the Strait of Malacca, which is under the control of Malaysia. Any aggravation of the dispute over the islands in the South China Sea may entail a blockade of the strait, since Malaysia is one of the parties to the dispute. Transport through the Suez Canal and Mediterranean Sea is complicated by the instability in North Africa and piracy. As we can see, there are many risks, not only for China, but also for other countries that use these routes. Against this background, the development of the Arctic and the Silk Road on the Ice seems to be essential. 

Cooperation between Moscow and Beijing is intensively developing in the Arctic. In April 2019, at the site of the International Arctic Forum in St. Petersburg, a ceremony was held to sign an agreement on the creation of an Arctic research center. China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC) and the Silk Road Fund are co-investors in the Yamal LNG project (20 percent and 9.9 percent of the capital, respectively). In 2018, a Russian tanker loaded with liquefied natural gas arrived at a Chinese port in Rudong County, Jiangsu Province via the Arctic North-East Passage. Thus, for the first time in the Arctic zone, liquefied natural gas from the Yamal LNG project was delivered and handed over to CNPC. This is the progress achieved by the Chinese and Russian sides in the area of joint construction of the Silk Road on the Ice.

Russian state companies Rosneft and Gazprom have agreed on Russian-Chinese cooperation in the Arctic seas. Chinese companies have received contracts for the modernization of the Arkhangelsk seaport and the construction of the White Sea-Komi-Ural railway. The development of the Northern Sea Route, in addition, creates conditions for the further development of the ports of Northeast China and Shandong Province such as Qingdao port. 

Considering the fact that China has much more economic, financial, and technological resources than Russia, as well as it has the positive dynamics of economic development, Beijing can make a significant contribution to the development of the Arctic. China's investments, its experience, technology and knowledge will be useful not only for Russia, but also for other countries that will be involved in the Silk Road on the Ice megaproject.

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