Can China’s polar silk road change global trade?

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Conflict in the Middle East continues to disrupt global shipping routes including the Strait of Hormuz and the Strait of Malacca. China is now turning to Russia for support in developing an alternative trade path: the Northern Sea Route. On 15 August, China sent its first ship on its newly commercialised, regular shipping route, navigating north around Russia’s coastline. The maritime trade path connects eastern Chinese ports including Ningbo to Europe, offering a quicker way to EU markets which account for 20 per cent of China’s exports. Ships must be specially designed to break ice and open up frozen waters. Global warming could increase access to this path. South Korea among other nations are beginning to discover its potential. This week we’re asking, Can China’s polar silk road transform global trade? (Photo: The icebreaker Kronprins Haakon sails through sea ice. Credit: Oliver Morin via Getty Images) Contributors: Dr Marc Lanteigne, professor of political science at the University of Tromsø, The Arctic University of Norway Nan Hao, researcher in economic security at Helsinki Geoeconomics Society, Finland and Geneva Graduate Institute, Switzerland Katarzyna Zysk, professor of international relations and contemporary history at Norweigan Institute for Defence Studies, Oslo, Norway Karen van Loon, research fellow in Security and Defence programme at Clingendael Institute, The Hague, The Netherlands Presenter: Charmaine Cozier Producer: Evie Yabsley Researcher: Amelia Cox Editor: Tom Bigwood Technical Producer: Nathaniel Danter Production Management: Phoebe Lomas and Liam Morrey