Abstract: The development of Arctic sea routes offers important strategic value for China and represents an extension to the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st-Century Maritime Silk Road (B & R). The Northeast Passage (NEP), Northwest Passage (NWP), and Trans-Polar Passage (TPP) are compared from the viewpoint of shipping conditions, laws, and geopolitics, and preliminary suggestions are made for strategic choices around the utilization of Arctic sea routes. The main findings are as follows: (1) In recent years, although world trade and shipping have declined, Arctic shipping has tended to increase. With the continued decline in Arctic sea ice, the era of independent Arctic navigation is approaching. (2) The three Arctic navigation routes are in different stages of development. The NEP is developing rapidly with a small but stable base of bulk cargo and oil shipping. The NWP is developing slowly with resource-related bulk cargo shipping. Trans-Polar shipping via the TPP is minimal but has attracted increasing attention in recent years. (3) The ideal development strategy for China in terms of Arctic sea routes is to use one, try one, and explore one. There should be substantial investment in the NEP, tentative investment in the NWP, and exploratory investment in the TPP. China–Europe container transport via the Arctic is the most important area of investment. (4) Development and utilization of Arctic navigation routes require scientific investigation and commercial utilization and China should take the approach of integration and exploration to develop and utilize Arctic sea routes.

Key words: Arctic Sea Route, sea ice, shipping conditions, law, geopolitics, container shipping, comparison