Arctic policy of China
The People's Republic of China (PRC) published its first official Arctic policy in a white paper released in 2018 and declared itself a "near-Arctic state." Analysts have also noted the development of People's Liberation Army (PLA) capabilities that could extend to the Arctic. Termed the "Polar Silk Road" of the larger Belt and Road Initiative, China's arctic policy has been understood by analysts to encompass geostrategic and economic objectives, such as providing options to bypass the Strait of Malacca and the Suez Canal while accessing the Northeast Passage.