Pentagon Warns On Risk Of Chinese Submarines In Arctic

(Reuters) Phil Stewart Idrees Ali May 2 2019 5:55 PM Deepening Chinese activities in the Arctic region could pave the way for a strengthened military presence including the deployment of submarines to act as deterrents against nuclear attack the Pentagon said in a report released on Thursday. The assessment is included in the U.S. militarys annual report to Congress on Chinas armed forces and follows Beijings publication of its first official Arctic policy white paper in June. In that paper China outlined plans to develop shipping lanes opened up by global warming to form a Polar Silk Road" - building on President Xi Jinpings signature Belt and Road Initiative. China despite being a non-Arctic state is increasingly active in the polar region and became an observer member of the Arctic Council in 2013. That has prompted concerns from Arctic states over Beijings long-term strategic objectives including possible military deployments. U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo will attend the meeting of the eight-nation Arctic Council in Rovaniemi Finland starting on Monday which comes amid concerns over Chinas increased commercial interests in the Arctic. The Pentagon report noted that Denmark has expressed concern about Chinas interest in Greenland which has included proposals to establish a research station and a satellite ground station renovate airports and expand mining. Civilian research could support a strengthened Chinese military presence in the Arctic Ocean which could include deploying submarines to the region as a deterrent against nuclear attacks" the report said.