China’s Arctic Ambitions Pose Growing Threat to Canadian Interests, Top Defence Official Warns

A large Iceberg floats away as the sun sets near Kulusuk, Greenland, on Aug. 15, 2019. Felipe Dana/AP Photo

China’s geo-political ambition in the Arctic is posing a growing threat to Canadian interests, a top Defence official warned.

Defence Deputy Minister Jody Thomas told the Ottawa Conference on Security and Defence on Wednesday that as melting ice opens up the Arctic Ocean, Beijing has set eyes on the Northwest Passage for new shipping routes and resource extraction, including fish, fossil fuel, and minerals.