Bioeconomy and Ecosystem of China's Polar Silk Road

Abstract

The Polar Silk Road is one of the People´s Republic of China's big projects. As part of the grand plan of the “One Belt, One Road” initiative, it is the continuation, and reinforcement, of the country's Arctic strategy. In 2018, China officially affirmed its goals with the publication of the book China's Arctic Policy announcing the creation of the Arctic Route, reinforcing a more proactive policy towards the region. The exploration of the Arctic with the ongoing thaw raises major questions about the sustainability of a changing ecosystem. The concerns of the Arctic bioeconomy are increasingly high, not only with navigability but also with the exploitation of the riches under the ice. This article is about the political and economic ambitions of China in the Artic, and how they are compatible with bioeconomy and sustainability policies, being the North Polar region one of the most fragile ecosystems on earth, and one of the most dynamic, derivatives of the permafrost thawing.