Although China is not an Arctic country like Russia, its activities in the region are raising greater concern for the Canadian Security Intelligence Service, according to a senior official.
Paul Lynd, an assistant director with the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS), told MPs on Feb. 12 that though Russia maintains a “tremendous interest and focus” on the Arctic, China poses the greatest threat in the region.
“[Russia is] of less concern than say, the activities of China and other hostile state actors at this time,” Lynd said. He specified that Russia does pose a military threat in the Arctic, which falls more under the purview of National Defence, and that the threat from China involves foreign interference and economic security….