The Arctic, outer space and influence-building: China and Russia join forces to expand in new strategic frontiers

China’s geopolitical competition with the West is rapidly expanding into new domains Beijing identifies as crucial to its strategic ambitions – outer space, the polar regions, cyberspace and the deep sea. On its road to becoming a global power, Beijing is expanding its dual-use presence in new strategic frontiers, writes Helena Legarda, Head of Program Foreign Relations at MERICS, in a new analysis for the EU-funded project China Horizons. And China is not doing so alone: Russia has emerged as a key partner for China’s ambitions in these spheres.

Key findings:

• China’s geopolitical competition with the West is rapidly expanding into new domains such as the polar regions, space, cyberspace and the deep sea.
• External narratives depict Beijing’s activities within a “win-win”, multilateral approach to the global commons.
• China’s ambitions and activities in these new frontiers pose clear challenges to European interests, security, values and future economic development.
• Beijing views the “strategic new frontiers” as providing new opportunities to advance its objective of expanding its global influence at the expense of Western countries, from military capabilities to global governance.
• China’s engagement with the new frontiers is inherently dual-use.
• Russia has emerged as Beijing’s partner of choice in these new frontiers of geopolitical competition.
• Europe risks strategic irrelevance in the Arctic and space if it fails to respond to China's dual-use footprint.

Download publication