Opportunities For The Ice Crisis

The problem of global warming gradually stepped into the public view andbecame the ecological environment relates to the field of international politics issuesof global concern since eighty’s in last century. This problem is always in the negativeimage and attacked by the international community, but in another field, globalwarming crisis has also become a significant opportunity with potential value. Thiscrisis with hidden opportunities is just the melting of Arctic icecap for the rise ofglobal temperature. The ice-melting crisis reveals a whole new channel that nevershown to the world before in this untraversed polar.The opening of Arctic channel makes the very cold place on this earthinstantly become the hot focus of the earth, the abundant natural resources in theArctic region and potential commercial value become more visible because of theopening of this new channel,otherwise,the gloom of international conflict graduallygathers in the arctic sky. As the big developing marine country near by the Arctic,there are both sovereignty limits and very close relates with the Arctic affairs,thehuge potential value of the Arctic channel to China shipping especially can not beignored. This article is just from the view of opportunity under the ice-melting crisis,to explore the potential values of Arctic channel to China shipping.The article is divided into four parts. The first part introduces the climatebackground of the opening of Arctic channel, and defines the concept and the legalstatus of the Arctic channel; the second part elaborates the potential values of Arcticchannel to China shipping, separately from the operation cost, operation safety,infrastructure construction and multi-function aspects; the third part analyzes thelimiting factors restricting China from using Arctic channel, including the constraintsof natural environment, constraints of the international environment and constraintsof nation’s own shipping actuality; the last part puts forward the correspondingcountermeasures according to the above analysis, one is the positive strategycountermeasures, on the other hand, is actively construction countermeasures. Onlywork along both lines, China shipping can fully grasp this great opportunity of the opening of Arctic channel.China has to widely mobilize all domestic resources and forces to deal withthe Arctic channel issue, including committed to building Chinas near-by-ArcticNational Identity, actively participate in the Arctic channel international managementmechanism, well-playing the important role of the Arctic Council official observer,concerning about the Arctic channel and the Arctic affairs. Let the day of Chinabecoming a maritime power from a maritime nation can be expected soon.