Abstract:

The Arctic has important practical and potential value in areas such as climate changing, resource access, sea routes, and scientific expeditions. Scientific expeditions have instrumental value in resource conpetitions, although cooperative scientific expeditions most of the time stay in non-contentious areas. United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and Svalbard Treaty are the main legal norms that govern scientific expedition in the Arctic. As one of the largest developing countries and a big economy, China has not only theoretical foundation but also scientific and techonological strength, as well as legitimate reasons, for pursuing interests in the Arctic. Therefore, China should enlarge the scale of scientific expedition activeties, and become involved in the related legislative and rule-making processes, as to improve the status in the Arctic affairs.

Key words: United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, Svalbard Treaty, Arctic scientific expedition, Archipelago of Spitsbergen