Toshitaka TAKEUCHI    Department   Kyoto University of Foreign Studies  Department of Global Studies, Faculty of Global Engagement    Position   Professor
Date	2020/03/18
Title	China’s Polar Silk Roads Policy and Its Implications
Conference	The 6th International Symposium on Arctic Research (ISAR6) online meeting,
Promoters	International Symposium on Arctic Research
Location	online meeting,
Conference Type	International
Lecture Type	Lecturer
Contribution Type	Individual
Details	First, Xi’s basic policy pronouncements such as “Chinese Dream” and his “Make China Great Again” (my term) are explained. The Polar Silk Road policy, which utilizes the Northern Sea Route, is a part of the Belt and Road initiative. China’s interests in the Arctic are mainly scientific and economic such as natural resources and fishing. However, there is a heightened concern that the Arctic will be used to dominate in the Eurasia and for nuclear equation. In the Cold War years, the Arctic was the theater for the Soviet and US nuclear submarines. If China can operate a nuclear submarine or two, the whole nuclear strategic calculation will be altered.