Polar Pioneers: China and Russia's Arctic Venture Raises Questions about Global Cooperation The icy waters of the Arctic are heating up, and not just due to climate change.
The recent joint sea ice survey between China and Russia aboard the Xuelong 2 research vessel has sparked a flurry of interest in Washington, with some seeing it as a calculated move by Beijing to expand its presence in the polar region.
This collaboration is part of a larger trend of increased cooperation between China and Russia in the Arctic, driven by the thawing of permafrost and the subsequent unlocking of new sea routes.