The People’s Republic of China has published a 356-page manual for its merchant marine, in order to influence their use of the Arctic Ocean. This route is one third shorter than the passage via the Panama Canal. So far, only one merchant ship, the Canadian Nunavik (photo), has used this North-West route alone.

Canada claims this passage as part of its territorial waters, while a number of states consider it to be international territory. China has not so far expressed its opinion on the matter.

For the last three years, China has already been using the new maritime routes along the Siberian coast.

“China charting a new course”, Peng Yining, China Daily, April 20th, 2016.

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Translation
Pete Kimberley