The Temporarily Canadian Arctic

DAY

Justin Trudeau ordered the destruction of an unidentified flying object that entered Canadian territory, but it was shot down by an American fighter jet. It is to bet that the machine was Chinese, since it flew over American bases.

This incident alone sums up Canada's problem in the Arctic. The Arctic is more and more coveted and Canada has not given itself the means of its territorial claims.

China has coveted the Arctic territories for decades. Moreover, in the minds of many Chinese, Siberia is Chinese territory that the Russians stole. A territory that must one day return to China, willingly or by force. On Chinese maps, much of Canada's Arctic territories are conveniently considered international waters.

As the Chinese make up about 20% of the world's population, the Chinese government believes that China is entitled to 20% of the world's resources. However, the Arctic accounts for 30% of the world's gas reserves. The territory also contains many minerals that China lacks. Its fish stocks are virtually intact.

China's pressure on the world's natural resources will increase before its Chinese population decreases.

Over the years, China has increased its presence in the Arctic. She has been an observer member of the Arctic Council since 2013. She has led many so-called scientific explorations in this territory. Its “research balloons” are only a small part of China's Arctic activity.

Old defences, new threats

For the moment, the best defenses against invasions on Arctic Canadian soil are the intense cold that reigns there as well as the absence of infrastructure.

But climate change and scientific advances are increasingly making easy exploitation of the Arctic.

However, the Chinese navy has become in recent years the most modern and the most numerous in the world. It is obvious that Canada does not have the means to ensure its northern sovereignty alone against a predatory state like China.

The problem is that American business lobbies are far from seeing the Arctic as a natural reserve that should be preserved for future generations. Like the Chinese, they see business opportunities there. It is for this reason that the United States is reluctant to recognize Canada's sovereignty over certain portions of the Arctic.

In the camp of small countries< /p>

In the Arctic, Canada clearly finds itself in the camp of the small Nordic countries. He has China, Russia and, to some extent, the United States against him.

At the moment, Russian and Chinese interests oppose those of the United States. But if ever these interests were to converge, for lack of adequate defence, Canada's sovereignty in the region would risk becoming symbolic.

The Chinese think in the very long term. Canada would benefit from doing the same.