China warned against 'confrontational posture' in Arctic

A separate report from April 2026 by Nong Hong, Executive Director and Head of ICAS Maritime Affairs Program at chinaus-icas.org, examined China-Russia cooperation in the Arctic. This report found that bilateral cooperation is primarily pragmatic and project-driven, rather than a unified strategic alliance. Russia is identified as the dominant actor due to its control over territory, regulatory authority, and infrastructure. China's contribution is mainly through financing, market demand, industrial capacity, and technology, particularly in large-scale energy and logistics projects. Western sanctions on Russia have increased Moscow's interest in Chinese investment, but Chinese firms remain cautious due to concerns about secondary sanctions and project viability. The report also noted that expanding economic activity in the Arctic will necessitate stronger governance frameworks, environmental safeguards, and safety regulations, and that Arctic governance will increasingly involve both regional and extra-regional actors like China.