China casts a longing gaze toward the Arctic

China may use Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s upcoming visit to push its claim for more influence in the Arctic. After a speech Wednesday to the Montreal Council on Foreign Relations (which, apparently, is a thing) China’s ambassador to Canada suggested his country might want input on the Arctic Council, a working group of eight nations with territories in the far north.

The Arctic could be home to trillions of dollars in oil, gas and other resources. China, with no actual territory in the region, is nonetheless a voracious consumer of energy goods. If there’s a resource play to be had in the area, they’re going to want a part of it.

Canadian Press