Icelandic Arctic Policy Research

Since the beginning of the 21 st century, the natural environment has undergone profound changes due to climate warming, unprecedented development opportunities and numerous severe challenges have come to the Arctic. Iceland lies on the intersection of North Atlantic Ocean and the Arctic Ocean, clings to the Arctic Circle, so its strategic position is very important. As an Arctic nation and a founding member of the Arctic Council, Iceland regards Arctic affairs as high priority of its foreign policies, and makes great effort to maintain its own economic, environmental and security interests in the Arctic region.For a long time, Iceland’s Arctic policy is relatively scattered and scrappy, which can only be summarized from the government plans and the speeches Iceland made in the Arctic Council, the Nordic Council of Ministers etc. Approved by the legislative session March 28 2011, A Parliamentary Resolution on Iceland’s Arctic Policy marks the formal formation of Iceland’s Arctic policy. The resolution describes the increased significance of the Arctic in international affairs, utilization of natural resources, ecological considerations, sovereign rights, international law, disputes over continental shelf rights, security issues, and issues related to the inhabitants of the Arctic region, and puts forward twelve principles of Iceland’s Arctic policy. From the content of the resolution, Iceland’s Arctic policy is a comprehensive systemic guideline for its own country to deal with Arctic matters, endows the Arctic region lofty status in its national strategy, and reflects that Iceland will safeguard its interests in the Arctic region by "soft means".Iceland carried out a series of geopolitical practice on Arctic Affairs, stressing to play the leading role of the Arctic Council, strengthening the all-dimensional international cooperation on Arctic issues, focusing on promoting sustainable development in the Arctic region, conducting scientific research on Arctic issues actively and seizing the new opportunities through arctic exploitation. Iceland’s Arctic policy still faces many difficulties in the implementation process. Iceland’s capacity for development and protection of the Arctic is limited, Iceland’s position as a coastal state within the Arctic region has not yet been admitted, and disputes about maritime rights and interests with neighboring countries exist.Iceland’s Arctic policy and its practice have provided helpful references for our country. China should develop a formal and comprehensive Arctic policy, deepen international cooperation in the Arctic and highlight the Arctic scientific research in order that China will get more legitimate interests in the Arctic in the fierce scramble.