10 Sep 2020/Jana Robinson

Dr. Jana Robinson’s article on “Arctic Space Challenge for NATO Emerging from China’s Economic and Financial Assertiveness” was published in the 30th edition of the Journal of the Joint Air Power Competence Centre. 

The article (link available here) describes the rapid tempo of China’s space presence in the Arctic, including an overview of their polar stations, the main Chinese enterprises involved, and the strategic and commercial business transactions designed to advance Beijing’s strategic objectives. It argues that China engages in a subtle, incremental, approach (versus the more open ‘space sector capture’ activities in many developing countries) to legitimize and expand its involvement in this pivotal region. It recommends the first-time integration of the economic and financial dimensions of China’s space-related predations into the common operating pictures of allied military and space agencies.