WASHINGTON — Russia and China are increasingly cooperating in the Arctic, a development that could impact regional stability, the US military said as it unveiled its strategy for the region on Monday (July 22). According to the report, Russia has reopened hundreds of Soviet-era military sites in the Arctic. China, which considers itself a "near-Arctic" state, also has ambitions in the region, aiming to build a "Polar Silk Road." China is interested in the Arctic for its mineral resources and new shipping routes, which are becoming more accessible as ice packs recede due to rising temperatures.

"Increasingly, the [People's Republic of China] and Russia are collaborating in the Arctic across multiple instruments of national power," the Pentagon's report stated. "While significant areas of disagreement between the PRC and Russia remain, their growing alignment in the region is of concern, and [the Department of Defense] continues to monitor this cooperation," it added.

Arctic sea routes are increasingly being used to connect major economies across the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans as global warming reduces ice coverage and allows for longer ice-free periods. China and Russia have been collaborating to develop Arctic shipping routes. Russia aims to deliver more oil and gas to China amid Western sanctions, while China seeks an alternative shipping route to reduce its reliance on the Strait of Malacca.

"China has been participating in Arctic affairs in line with the basic principles of respecting win-win cooperation and sustainable development and has strengthened cooperation with other parties to uphold peace and stability," said Mao Ning, a Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson, on Tuesday.

Security scholars and regional military attaches view China's reliance on Indian Ocean shipping routes as a strategic vulnerability, especially in a potential conflict over Taiwan.

The Pentagon report noted that China is looking to leverage "changing dynamics in the Arctic to pursue greater influence and access, take advantage of Arctic resources, and play a larger role in regional governance." The US military's "monitor-and-respond" strategy in the Arctic is built on intelligence collection, cooperation with allies, and the ability to deploy military assets.

Additionally, this month, the US, Canada, and Finland will form a consortium to build icebreaker ships, aiming to bolster the allies' shipbuilding capabilities and counter Russia and China in strategic polar regions. The deal, expected to be signed by year-end, will pool demand from allies to scale shipbuilding capacity and send a message to Russia and China.

Disclaimer: This image is taken from Reuters.