The US plan to create the position of Arctic ambassador, and the increasing attention the region is getting from countries such as Denmark and Japan, which have set up so-called 'Arctic envoys', show that competition for the region's untapped natural resources is heating up, experts say.

U.S. determined to participate in Arctic affairs

US Secretary of State John Kerry has sent letters on Feb 14, 2014 to Mark Begich and Lisa Murkowski, the two senators from Alaska, the northernmost US state, stating his intention to name a "high-level individual of substantial stature and expertise" to serve as Arctic special representative.

Last May, the Obama administration issued the first U.S. "Arctic National Strategy” and proposed a major triple U.S. focus on Arctic affairs - safeguarding the people, the country 's territorial sovereignty and its natural resources, exploitation of resources in a responsible and environmentally friendly manner, and strengthening international cooperation on Arctic development.

In addition, the U.S. Coast Guard announced their plans in the Arctic area over the next 10 years, including expanding cooperative relations with other countries in the Arctic region with the team's experience and expertise.

Russia will not surrender the North Pole to anyone

Faced with a double temptation - natural resources and shipping lanes - Russia will fight for every inch of the Arctic region.

"We will not give the North Pole to anyone,” said Artur Chilingarov, Russian federation Council member, in response to a statement from the Canadian foreign minister at the end of 2013 that the country intended to extend seabed claims in the Arctic to include the North Pole in a bid to assert its sovereignty in the resource-rich region.

From 2014 to 2020, Russia will spend $ 63 billion on Arctic development. Last year Russia set up three rescue centers around the North Pole to respond to emergency situations in the Arctic, and plans for seven more before 2015.

Swedish optimistic on Arctic mining

15% of Sweden's territory is located within the Arctic Circle. The Swedish government issued a "Swedish Arctic Strategy" in October 2011 and advocates scientific research first, and development with environmental awareness.

Swedish businesses are conducting extensive operations in the Arctic. Their ore and mineral extraction activities date back several centuries, and there have been significant levels of investment in the Swedish mining industry. Base metals, iron and titanium projects are also under way in the area.

Arctic countries expect strong cooperation with China

The Arctic Council granted China observer status on May 15 last year.

Dr. Friedman Woolf told People’s Daily that it is very important for China to become an observer on the Arctic Council. China has rich experience in polar research and climate change research. Pointing out that Chinese research vessel and icebreaker Xuelong (Snow Dragon) has collected a great deal of scientific data, the senior Swedish researcher at the Polar Research Institute believes that China will make an important contribution to the Council.

The Deputy director of RIA Novosti’s international projects center said that the Arctic does not belong to any one country, and the problems that exist in the region require multinational co-operation.

The article is edited and translated from 北极博弈出现升温趋势（国际视点）, source: People's Daily, author: Liao Zhengjun, Chen Xiaowei and Liu Zhonghua.