China's Hunchun Arctic link may create huge international shipping hub
The northern Chinese city of Hunchun is tipped to become an international shipping centre equal to Singapore if business expands along Arctic shipping routes. China gained a permanent observer status to the intergovernmental Arctic Council in 2013 and styles itself as a "near-Arctic nation". Chinese shipping giant Cosco has announced plans to send more vessels to the Arctic and polar research ship Xue Long recently conducted a seventh polar expedition. If business expands along the routes linking the Pacific and the Atlantic, Hunchun - situated near the borders with Russia and North Korea - could see a large boost in business.
Beijing may be playing it cool, but it sees its current role in the contested High North as just the tip of the iceberg