With geopolitical competition intensifying in the Arctic, particularly with China now facing more obstacles in its multipronged efforts to secure resources and to gain further influence in the region, it compels Canada to comprehensively step up its Arctic engagement, according to expert testimony.
Guy Saint-Jacques, Canadian ambassador to China from 2012 to 2016, said China is acutely interested in the Arctic as a source of minerals and seafood.
“I would like to underline how systematic China has been in acquiring supplies of critical minerals. This is one of the main objectives of the Polar Silk Road Initiative, which has been tagged with the Belt and Road Initiative,” Saint-Jacques said.
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