Arctic research in Сhina: Analysis based on scientific publications

Abstract

Arctic region is rapidly transforming into a global theatre with a growing number of non-Arctic stakeholders. One illustration of this transformation process is China's growing presence in the Arctic. This article analyses the scientific literature, including scientific journals, doctoral and master's theses, statistical yearbooks, e-books, patents and standards available in the Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) - Chinese-language scientific publications database, the Russian scientific portal's equivalent, elibrary. Priority topics in Chinese Arctic research were identified -meteorology, oceanography, education, China's international relations, biology. It is obvious that most Chinese scientists are interested in issues linked with the Northern Sea Route development in various aspects - transport infrastructure, international transit regime, oceanography. China's position is defined: the Northern Sea Route is primarily an international shipping route, and not Russian asset. For the last 5 years, several new conceptual documents have appeared that provide a clearer picture of China's Arctic policy (China White Paper 2018). In 2023, a joint Russian-Chinese working body for the development of the Northern Sea Route is planned to be established. The list of the most cited Chinese authors and the most famous Chinese scientific papers is presented in the article in order to recognize and highlight Chinese scientific research on the Arctic in Chinese. The goal of the article is to demonstrate Chinese scientific research access to the Russian audience, as well as to evaluate both volumes and topics of scientific work created in Chinese and related to the Arctic.