US President Donald Trump has repeatedly mentioned that he wants to buy Greenland, a semi-autonomous region of Denmark. His statements have riled the island's residents and the Scandinavian nation, which has long been a staunch US ally. Our reporter You Yang takes a look at the reasons Trump wants to take over Greenland. 

"Greenland, what is your vision for the potential annexation of Greenland and getting them potentially to stay?"

DONALD TRUMP, US President "Well, I think it'll happen."

YOU YANG, CGTN Reporter "Donald Trump says he wants to buy Greenland. But it seems that the people of Greenland aren't up for sale."

TUNGUTAQ LARSEN, Resident of Nuuk "I am a human. I am a human. Humans are not for sale."

KAJ SANDGREN, Resident of Nuuk "So I would like to say to Trump, don't even think about repeating it. Don't even think about repeating it that you want Greenland. We don't want you here."

YOU YANG, CGTN Reporter "Why does American president keep showing such strong interest in the island? First, strategic location. The island lies along the shortest route from Europe to North America, which is vital for the US ballistic missile warning system. Secondly, the island boasts an array of minerals, oil and natural gas."

CUI HONGJIAN, Professor, Academy of Regional and Global Management, Beijing Foreign Studies University "We know that Greenland is the largest island in the world. I think its value is reflected in its geographical location, because we know that Greenland is located between the Arctic Ocean and the North Atlantic Ocean, which is an important channel connecting the two oceans. The second is Greenland, which is very rich in mineral resources. In its south, there are large, rare earth deposits. The proven reserves of rare earths in Greenland have reached 1.5 million tonnes, the second largest reserves in the world."

YOU YANG, CGTN Reporter "If we take a closer look things are a lot more complicated. Experts say in next few decades, melting glaciers will reshape the Arctic which will reveal a valuable new coastline. And the US earlier asserted that China is currently using the shipping routes, and Russia is interested to position itself throughout the Arctic."

CUI HONGJIAN, Professor, Academy of Regional and Global Management, Beijing Foreign Studies University "To some extent, it can be understood why the Trump administration is eager to acquire Greenland, because if it does, on the one hand, it can give the United States a priority geographical position around the Arctic region, and on the other hand, it can squeeze other countries' normal commercial activities by controlling shipping routes. The US even mentioned China. We know that China is not an Arctic country, but in recent years we have had good cooperation with Arctic nations in the fields of environmental protection, scientific exploration, and other aspects. Trump keeps saying China has other interests and motives in the Arctic. It's absurd."

You Yang, CGTN, Beijing.