Arctic change "hot spot" quiet corner from the "smoke"
　　US and Russian Arctic wrestling continue to overweight

　　The game between the United States and Russia competing for the Arctic is already on stage and off stage. Recently, the Arctic has once again become a "training ground" for both sides.

　　Increasing the militarization of the Arctic

　　"The United States is stepping up into the Arctic Circle." According to Japan's Yomiuri Shimbun, since June, US President Trump has signed a memorandum on the safety of the Arctic and Antarctic, announcing plans to build a new icebreaker by 2029. This is the first time the United States has proposed to update its icebreaker team in more than 40 years. Prior to this, the United States reopened its consulate in Greenland, located in the Arctic Circle, after 70 years. At the same time, the United States and NATO allies have strengthened coordination and cooperation to enhance their combat capabilities in the Arctic.

　　In this regard, Russia responded strongly. Not long ago, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree formally announcing that from January 1, 2021, the Russian Northern Fleet will become an independent military administrative unit and formally become the fifth military region after the Central Military Region, Western Military Region, Eastern Military Region, and Southern Military Region. Analysis believes that this will lay a solid foundation for the development of Russia's Arctic strategy and deter NATO countries led by the United States.

　　"The process of militarization in the Arctic is accelerating." Jiang Yi, a researcher at the Russian Academy of Eastern European and Central Asian Studies, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, said in an interview with this reporter that in recent years, in the Arctic region, the United States, Canada and other NATO countries have increased their investment , But Russia played first move. As early as more than ten years ago, Russia began to distribute in the Arctic region. At present, Russia maintains a strong military, technological and industrial advantage in the Arctic region, especially in the global leading position in the construction and possession of nuclear-powered icebreakers.

　　Seize a new strategic high ground

　　According to the Russian "News" website report, in recent years, the Arctic has increasingly become a stage for the interests of major powers. In view of this, Russia has built infrastructure and lines of defense in the high latitudes in recent years. The Arctic has long occupied an important position in NATO's combat operations plan against Russia. NATO forces can use this to launch air-based and submarine-launched cruise missiles and launch surprise attacks on important economic and military installations in Siberia and the Far East. Therefore, it is very important for Russia to control the Arctic region and establish a defense system.

　　The United States has strengthened its military deployment in the Arctic, and it has obvious implications for Russia. In June 2019, the US Department of Defense issued a new version of the "Arctic Strategy" report, outlining its strategic approach to protect the security and interests of the United States in the Arctic in the "epoch of strategic competition," seeking to enhance the military presence of the region against Russia.

　　Jiang Yi said that the Arctic is a new field of game between major powers in recent years. This is closely related to the two characteristics of the Arctic region: one is that the Arctic region is extremely rich in oil and gas resources and mineral resources; the other is that after global warming, the airworthiness and economic efficiency of the Arctic channels have become increasingly prominent, naturally becoming a global strategic competition New heights.

　　Some analysts believe that the opening of the Arctic channel through the Arctic Ocean will greatly shorten the transportation distance between the Pacific Ocean and the Atlantic Ocean. In addition, compared with the traditional Eurasian waterway, the Arctic waterway has more advantages in terms of overall safety.

　　Fear of "zero-sum game"

　　According to the "United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea", the Arctic and Arctic Oceans are the common wealth of all mankind and do not belong to any sovereign country. However, the "United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea" also stipulates that sovereign states can draw an exclusive economic zone not exceeding 200 nautical miles and a continental shelf not exceeding 350 nautical miles along the baseline of their territorial sea. Currently, countries with coastlines in the Arctic Ocean include Russia, the United States (Alaska), Canada, Norway, Denmark (Greenland), and so on. Based on this, these countries have successively put forward territorial sea requirements for some Arctic regions. However, at present, only the United States and Russia are truly conducting military deployments in the Arctic.

　　"Some countries in the Arctic region overlap with Russia in the exclusive economic zone. Many countries in the Arctic region are members of NATO. Concerns about Russian military threats have prompted them to increase military cooperation within the framework of NATO." Jiang Yi analyzed.

　　Eric Blatterberg, director of the European Program of the Carnegie International Peace Foundation of the United States, pointed out that the US government has shown strong concern about the Arctic, and some European countries may support the expansion of the US military presence in the polar regions. The international community's worries about "zero-sum game" competition in the Arctic will also increase.

　　"The conflicts of interest between the US and Russia in the Arctic are strategic and structural. In the short term, the conflict between the two sides in the Arctic shows no signs of easing, and competition will become increasingly fierce." Jiang Yi believes that unlike the Antarctic, the Arctic involves some Arctic regions The interests of the country are more complicated. However, the Arctic is of great significance to the global climate, overall human survival and security. The Arctic is not just the Arctic in some countries, but the Arctic in the world. It is hoped that the major powers concerned can effectively shoulder their responsibilities, ease tensions in the Arctic, and peacefully develop and utilize Arctic resources and waterways through consultation.

Jia Pingfan