China’s Territorial and Global Narratives in the Arctic Region

This article analyzes the territorial and global narratives used by China to define its presence and legitimize its activities in the Arctic region. The relevance of this study is determined by the growing geopolitical uncertainty in the Arctic, caused by intense competition for natural resources, dominance in infrastructure projects, including through the use of force, climate change, increased shipping, and the growing role of non-Arctic states, primarily China. This article aims to identify and systematize China’s key narrative strategies in territorial and global contexts and to determine the tools for their implementation. The methodological basis is a combination of analytical methods, including content analysis of Chinese official documents, media materials (Xinhua, Global Times, China Daily, People’s Daily), and expert publications, as well as institutional analysis. The results of the study allowed us to identify territorial narratives of China’s media discourse (the Arctic as a “common frontier,” a “near-Arctic power,” the “Polar Silk Road,” scientific presence, and shared territoriality with Russia) and global narratives (climate responsibility, a “community of shared destiny for humanity,” multipolarity, infrastructure globalism, technological leadership, responsible investor, and new data governance regimes). The study concludes that China’s media discourse combines defensive, cooperative, and scientific-climate narratives, allowing Beijing to simultaneously respond to external criticism and promote the image of a responsible global power. It concludes that science diplomacy, institutional integration, and infrastructure projects serve as key mechanisms for soft legitimization of China’s presence; however, persistent geopolitical risks and the politicization of science may limit the effectiveness of this strategy.

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