Future of Japan-China Cooperation in Arctic Affairs

Abstract Environmental changes are now rapidly occurring in the Arctic, with global warming progressing three times faster than the global average, thereby impacting the entire planet. Furthermore, international relations in the Arctic have undergone dramatic shifts following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The Arctic nations have split into Russia and seven states, and the functioning of the Arctic Council has been suspended; it has since been restarted under Norway’s chairmanship, under controlled conditions, but Russia is still not able to engage politically with the other AC members. Notably, Japan and China, both observer states of the Arctic Council, are geographically located to be affected by climate change in the Arctic. However, they are also expected to enjoy future economic and commercial opportunities, such as leveraging the Northern Sea Routes. This paper aims to analyze how Japan and China can cooperate and contribute to the Arctic through scientific research. With the suspension of the Arctic Council, observer States in particular must utilize platforms outside of the Council to engage the Arctic. The role of observers in the Arctic is significant, and it is necessary to continue exploring their potential to facilitate positive international relations.