In recent decades, the Arctic region has undergone dramatic changes. Although it remained on the periphery of global politics for an extended period, it has increasingly drawn the attention of policymakers and the international community. This shift is attributable to various factors, including the impacts of climate change, the discovery of vast natural resource reserves, and the potential for year-round navigation. Russian-Chinese Arctic cooperation has long been a crucial component of international collaboration in the region. Despite ongoing crises, this interaction has remained robust, demonstrating, firstly, a significant level of interest in cooperation between the two states, and secondly, a recognition of the necessity to sustain a peaceful and stable dialogue on Arctic issues, considering the global challenges present in the region. This paper explores the development of Russian-Chinese Arctic cooperation over the past decade through the lens of neoclassical realism and historicism. It is found that the present crisis in Arctic state relations poses a complex challenge for Beijing in balancing its interactions with conflicting sides. The risk of secondary sanctions forces Chinese businesses to be highly cautious with Russian oil, gas, and LNG projects that are under restrictive measures. Additionally, China has no interest in altering the existing governance regime in the Arctic. Nonetheless, the comprehensive strategic partnership between Russia and China provides a foundation for optimism regarding the future of Arctic cooperation. The potential for further deterioration in U.S. – China relations may prompt Beijing to increase its involvement in regional cooperation with Moscow.
Arctic; China; Russia; cooperation; history.