Challenges in Canada's Far North Region
The Arctic region is becoming a hotbed of activity as nations scramble to secure a foothold in this vast, resource-rich area. The Conservative government of Canada, in response to increasing pressure from other Arctic powers, announced plans for an Arctic warfare training center and a refurbished deepwater naval port.
China, a 'Near-Arctic State' with approximately 60% of its exports by water, has shown particular interest in the Arctic. The country has expressed interest in Greenland, located on the far eastern side of the Northwest Passage (NWP), and has proposed establishing a research station and a satellite ground station, upgrading airports, and expanding mining. China views the NWP as a potential 'golden waterway' for future trade, as it offers significant shortcuts for shipping routes between Asia and Europe, shaving more than four thousand miles off a trip from the East Coast to the West Coast of North America.
However, China's ambitions in the Arctic are not without controversy. In 2017, a Chinese research icebreaker, the MV Xue Long, passed through the NWP, and other Chinese vessels have since visited the region, likely equipped with intelligence-gathering capabilities. A Chinese state-owned mining company, Shandong Gold Mining, had purchased a 50% share of the Nunavut TMAC Resources Hope Bay gold mining project, but the purchase was later blocked by the Canadian government on national security grounds.
Canada, with its vast Arctic being a potential host for foreign interests, has taken steps to defend its territory. The country operates a signals intelligence listening post at Alert, an Arctic Training Center, a command center at Resolute Bay, a force of Canadian Rangers, the new Arctic and offshore patrol ships, and an aging CF-18 fighter fleet for defense of the Arctic.
The Northwest Passage is a strategic waterway for Canada, serving as a sea supply route to its Northern settlements and industrial sites. However, Canada's claim of sole sovereignty over the passage is contested by the United States and the European Union, who view it as international waters. Canada and Denmark also have conflicting claims to the barren, uninhabited Hans Island.
The government of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has faced criticism for its handling of China's aggressive activities in Canada. The People's Liberation Army of China was refused participation in winter warfare training at a Canadian Army base at Petawawa, Ontario. Despite these tensions, the Arctic region remains a contested area, with its melting ice opening up new opportunities for shipping, tourism, and resource extraction, but also raising environmental and geopolitical concerns.
