[News Terms] The 'Arctic Route' in the US-China Hegemony Competition

The 'North Pole Route' is a shipping route that passes through the Arctic Ocean, connecting the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. It is divided into the 'Northwest Passage' in Canadian waters connecting North America and Europe, and the 'Northeast Passage' in Russian waters connecting Asia and Europe.

Due to climate change causing glaciers to melt, the navigable period along the 5,600 km stretch from the Kara Strait in northwest Russia to the Chukotka region in the east is gradually increasing. Normally, navigation was possible for about five months including the summer season due to the glaciers, but in 2020, when the heatwave was severe, navigation was possible for up to seven months, and from next year, year-round navigation is expected to be possible.

[Graphic by Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries]

Currently, cargo ships from the East Asia region use a route of about 20,000 km passing through the Indian Ocean and the Suez Canal to Rotterdam, the largest trading port in Europe. The sailing distance from Busan Port to Rotterdam is about 22,000 km, but using the Northeast Passage of the North Pole Route shortens the distance to about 15,000 km. The sailing distance is reduced by about 32%, saving various costs and time such as the Suez Canal tolls, which amount to billions of won, and sailing time.

However, unlike Antarctica, which does not belong to any country under international law, the Arctic is claimed by countries such as Russia, Canada, and Norway, so passage through the Arctic Ocean requires consultation with these countries.

Recently, the power struggle among major countries surrounding the Arctic Circle has intensified. The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported on the 6th (local time), citing multiple U.S. government officials, that last week a joint Chinese-Russian fleet of 11 ships was confirmed to have navigated near the Aleutian Islands in waters close to Alaska.

The joint Chinese-Russian fleet navigated near U.S. territory in Alaska, leading to an unprecedented standoff with four U.S. Navy destroyers. The power struggle reminiscent of the Cold War over the development of natural resources and route pioneering in the Arctic is unfolding as the glaciers melt.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.