China eyeing perks of ice-free Arctic

[phantom power]

STOCKHOLM (AFP) – China has started exploring how to reap economic and strategic benefits from the ice melting at the Arctic with global warming, a Stockholm research institute said Monday.

Chinese officials have so far had been cautious in expressing interest in the region for fear of causing alarm among the five countries bordering the Arctic, the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) said.

"The prospect of the Arctic being navigable during summer months, leading to both shorter shipping routes and access to untapped energy resources, has impelled the Chinese government to allocate more resources to Arctic research," SIPRI researcher Linda Jakobson said.

Canada, Denmark, Norway, Russia and the United States are already at odds over how to divvy up the Arctic riches, claiming overlapping parts of the region -- estimated to hold 90 billion untapped barrels of oil -- and wrangling over who should control the still frozen shipping routes.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20100301/sc_afp/chinaarcticbusinessenvironmentresearch

[joeybee12]

1. Global warming and the melting of the arctic...the biggest disaster this planet faces...

...and everyone is looking to make a buck.

[gateley]

2. This is beyond disgusting. They've already polluted their own country, why not

fuck up the Arctic, too? :grr;

[DCKit]

3. Don't blame China for trying to compete on our level.

We'll be there (probably already are) drilling out little hearts out too.

The polar bears never stood a chance.

[gateley]

4. You are so right. nt