China In The Arctic: How Real Is the Threat?

Elizabeth Economy sits down with Glenn Tiffert, a distinguished research fellow at the Hoover Institution, to examine what China wants in the Arctic and what it can currently do there. Tiffert distinguishes the limited military presence he describes from the longer-term capabilities China is developing through scientific research, ice-capable ships, and commercial activity. The two discuss the potential military uses of Arctic research, China’s efforts to gain a greater voice in regional governance, and how investment restrictions have redirected its activity toward Russia. They explore the opportunities and obstacles facing Arctic shipping between China and Europe, alongside the limits of Beijing’s partnership with Moscow. They also consider the US approach to Greenland, scientific research, and cooperation with Arctic allies, before closing with Tiffert’s recommendation of Logan Wright’s Broken China and reflections on China’s technological dependencies and domestic challenges.

Recorded on September 24, 2026.

RELATED SOURCES

• Glenn Tiffert’s Hoover profile and research
• China’s Arctic Policy (State Council Information Office, January 26, 2018). Official white paper discussed by Liz Economy and Glenn Tiffert.
• Glenn Tiffert’s book recommendation: Logan Wright, Broken China: How the Economic Miracle Shattered and What It Means for the World (Polity, 2026). Publisher link.
• Related episode: Broken China: How China’s Economic Miracle Shatters (China Considered, September 10, 2026).