Photo : Nunatsiaq News
Photo : Nunatsiaq News
BIODIVERSITY
Polar bear mothers raise cubs in snow dens through the harsh Arctic winter
On 27 July, Polar bear cubs were born between November and January, deeply protected within snow dens where their mothers remained without eating or drinking for two to four months. Litters of two were most common, though single and occasional triplet litters occurred, with births generally spaced three years apart. At birth, cubs weighed only 1-2 pounds, were blind, and covered in sparse fur. Mothers immediately nursed them up to six times a day with rich milk, approximately 33 pr cent fat, to help them gain weight and develop insulation quickly. Cubs began opening their eyes within a month, started walking around two months, and emerged from the den in late March or April. Mothers keenly protected their young, though only about one in four cubs survived to independence. (Johanna Kennelly Ullman, "How Polar Bear Mothers Raise Cubs in the Harsh Arctic," A-Z Animals, 27 July 2025)
DIPLOMACY
Canada appoints Arctic ambassador to implement Arctic foreign policy
On 24 July, Canada appointed Virginia Mearns as a new senior Arctic ambassador. She was a Iqaluit resident with experience in Inuit governance, tasked with advancing Arctic interests in multilateral forums and non-Arctic states. Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand emphasised the appointment as part of a “full-court press” to defend Canadian sovereignty and implement its USD 35 million Arctic foreign policy, which included establishing new consulates in Alaska and Greenland. The move occurred amid heightened concern over Chinese activity. The Canadian military intensified surveillance of the dual-purpose Chinese icebreaker Xue Long 2, tracking its progress north of Alaska using CP-140 Aurora aircraft. Anand reaffirmed that the Canadian Armed Forces would continue to monitor the vessel to uphold Arctic sovereignty. (Dylan Robertson, "New Arctic ambassador will play key role in defending sovereignty: Anand," Global News, 24 July 2025)
EXPEDITIONS
China and Russia relaunch joint oceanographic expeditions amid Arctic ambitions
On 24 July 2025, China and Russia resumed their first joint maritime research mission in five years. This mission deployed 25 scientists aboard the research vessel Akademik M A Lavrentyev from Vladivostok. The 45-day expedition targeted environmental and climate studies in the Bering Sea and northwestern Pacific Ocean. The expedition also focused on changes over the past 126,000 years, including sediment transport from land to sea. Organised by China’s First Institute of Oceanography and Russia’s Pacific Oceanological Institute, the venture marked a renewed chapter in bilateral marine cooperation. Officials characterised the mission as a symbol of shared commitment to addressing climate change and enhancing ocean science. Researchers expected the findings to inform predictions on ecosystem, fisheries, and shipping impacts across the North Pacific–Arctic region. (Phoebe Zhang, "China, Russia relaunch joint maritime research missions, eyeing Arctic ambitions," South China Morning Post, 24 July 2025)
FOREIGN POLICY
President Trump’s Arctic strategy spurs China to eye Polar shipping routes
On 25 July, the South China Morning Post reported that US President Donald Trump’s renewed push to acquire Greenland and strengthen Arctic infrastructure triggered debate among Chinese scholars about expanding their involvement in polar shipping. Analysts noted that China, as a “Near-Arctic State” and Arctic Council observer, was closely monitoring the Northern Sea Route (NSR), a faster link between Asia and Western Eurasia becoming navigable due to climate change. They argued that as Washington invested nearly USD 9 billion in icebreakers and Arctic security via the “One Big Beautiful Bill.” Beijing should respond by leveraging Arctic passage to counter perceived US geopolitical containment. The discussion highlighted growing competition over Arctic maritime routes and strategic access. (Ji Siqi, "Trump’s Arctic strategy stirs debate over China’s polar shipping ambitions," South China Morning Post, 25 July 2025)
GEOPOLITICS
China criticises US's Arctic claim as 'villain strikes first' escalation
On 27 July, The US Coast Guard identified a Chinese research vessel, Xue Long 2, operating near Alaska. It also claimed it entered the US's Extended Continental Shelf (ECS). It considered to be an assertion not recognised by international law. The agency released photos of the vessel, characterising the incident as an onset of a "villain strikes first" scenario. Global Times criticised the US portrayal, noting that the ECS designation was a unilateral expansion of US maritime claims by roughly one million square kilometers. The newspaper described the incident as political posturing rather than a violation. It also argued that the US was using its exaggerated territorial claim to rationalise confrontation in the Arctic. (Fan Anqi, "US plays 'villain strikes first' game as it hypes Chinese research vessel inside its self-claimed territory," Global Times, 27 July 2025)