Muhammad Makki's recent JES piece focused on China's quest for Arctic access and resources. Right on schedule, this week brought a state visit to Iceland by China's Premier Wen Jiabao, Minister of Foreign Affairs Yang Jiechi, Minister of Commerce Chen Deming and nine other ministers and deputy ministers, and Atle Staalesen reports the top item on the agenda was enhancing bilateral Arctic cooperation. Germany’s Deutsche Welle news service also references Makki’s article in the Journal with a much broader piece on China’s ambitions in the Arctic and the country’s tactic of wooing Scandinavian interests while trying to offset broader European concerns about China and the Arctic’s future.
