Observer Member: China and Pentagon Report

observer member: China, despite being a non-Arctic state, is increasingly active in the polar region and became an observer member of the Arctic Council in 2013, according to The Japan Times. That has prompted concerns from Arctic states over Beijing's long-term strategic objectives, including possible military deployments. The assessment is included in the U.S. military's annual report to Congress on China's armed forces and follows Beijing's publication of its first official Arctic policy white paper in June. ; In that paper, China outlined plans to develop shipping lanes opened up by global warming to form a Polar Silk Road building on President Xi Jinping's signature Belt and Road initiative. The Pentagon report noted that Denmark has expressed concern about China's interest in Greenland, which has included proposals to establish a research station, establish a satellite ground station, renovate airports and expand mining. The Pentagon report noted that China's military has made modernizing its submarine fleet a high priority. Civilian research could support a strengthened Chinese military presence in the Arctic Ocean, which could include deploying submarines to the region as a deterrent against nuclear attacks, the report said. (news.financializer.com). As reported in the news.