Is the Irtysh River the choke-free Arctic shipping gateway that China needs?
As conflicts around the world highlight the vulnerability of global shipping lanes, China and Russia are reportedly weighing the possibility of turning a vast river into an inland cargo route to the rest of the world. At the heart of this ambition is the 4,248km (2,640-mile) Irtysh River, which originates in China’s western Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region and runs through Kazakhstan before…
China is exploring the Irtysh River as a potential inland cargo route to the Arctic Ocean, bypassing traditional maritime chokepoints. The 4,248km (2,640-mile) river originates in China's Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, flows through Kazakhstan, and merges with the Ob River before entering Russia and ultimately the Arctic Ocean.
This route could provide China with access to the resource-rich and strategically important Arctic, while also circumventing Western naval blockades, foreign coastguard surveillance, and US sanctions. As global shipping lanes face geopolitical tensions, officials from China and Russia believe the Irtysh River could offer an alternative shipping option.
China has already launched a weekly container service along the route, and Russian officials estimate freight between Chinese and Russian ports via the Arctic Ocean could reach 20 million tonnes by 2030. However, the Bering Strait, which connects the Arctic and Pacific oceans, presents a potential chokepoint for both China and Russia.
This narrow marine gateway, only about 85km wide at its narrowest point, is closely monitored by the US and has seen increased military activity in recent years. Chinese and Russian navies have conducted regular patrols in the Bering Strait, and in 2024, Chinese and Russian strategic bombers flew over the area, leading to US intercepts by fighter jets.
To ensure continued access to the Arctic Ocean, Chinese officials believe developing the Irtysh River could provide a viable backup plan if the Bering Strait becomes blocked due to natural causes, political reasons, or security factors.
Written by urgent.news from Reuters Business via SCMP's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
