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A Chinese expedition into the Canadian Arctic this past August is raising questions about how prepared Canada is for a future of using the Northwest Passage for shipping — and what it means for sovereignty, in our "true north strong and free."



The Xue Long, or Snow Dragon, was a scientific expedition that took place last summer — one deemed a success by the Chinese.



But some are concerned about the precedent it could set for other superpowers wishing to travel through the Northwest Passage too.

"China is one of the major powers. We've got now three of the most powerful states coming increasingly into the Arctic — between China and Russia and the U.S. — it makes life a lot more interesting," University of Calgary professor Rob Huebert tells The Current's host Piya Chattopadhyay.

Huebert worries that this was far from just a "scientific" expedition — and could pave the way for China's future military plans in the Arctic.

"The Chinese have not only gone through the Northwest Passage — they've also been increasing their navy activity in the Arctic waters," Huebert explains.

"One has to realize that this is … an overall naval capability to be in the Arctic."

In this particular instance, Canada's diplomats did a perfect job. - Michael Byers , author of Who Owns the Arctic?

But not everyone feels the recent Chinese expedition is anything to worry about.

"This was a consensual voyage," says UBC professor of international relations Michael Byers, author of Who Owns the Arctic?

"The voyage reflects the simple reality that climate change is impacting the Arctic in very serious ways: melting the sea ice, opening the waterways, including the Northwest Passage and that foreign countries like China are seeking to understand these changes because China's very exposed to climate change and also because there will be economic opportunities in the form of shorter shipping routes."

Byers is warning against unnecessary panic when it comes to the sovereignty of Canada's Arctic.

"There's nothing easier than getting an alarmist headline about Arctic sovereignty under threat. What I'd like to tell people is that in this particular instance, Canada's diplomats did a perfect job."

More activity in the Arctic could mean good news. - Aluki Kotierk, president of Nunavut Tunngavik Inc.

Of course, it is the Inuit people who stand to lose — and potentially gain — the most from opening up the Northwest Passage to international shipping. One of their main concerns is the impact that traffic through the Arctic can have on their wildlife — and people — as a result.

"It has the potential of having an impact on the wildlife, which we so depend on for nutritious and healthy foods particularly in a jurisdiction where seven out of 10 Inuit children go to bed hungry," says Aluki Kotierk, president of Nunavut Tunngavik Inc.

But Kotierk believes that more activity in the Arctic could mean good news, too.

"Maybe Canada will give more attention to infrastructure needs in the Arctic," she tells Chattopadhyay.

"I'm always saying that that needs to be part of the nation-building of Canada. We are a part of Canada, and infrastructure investments need to be made in our territory as well," Kotierk says.

"There can be gains for sure, and Inuit are very adaptable."

The Current did request a comment from China's Embassy to Canada. We have not yet heard back.

Listen to the full segment near the top of this web post.

This segment was produced by The Current's Samira Mohyeddin, Lara O'Brien, Ines Colabrese and Howard Goldenthal.