China has emerged as a member of the elite club of nations who are powerful at both global poles. Polar states are global giants, strong in military, scientific, and economic terms. The concept of a polar great power is relatively unknown in international relations studies; yet China, a rising power globally, is now widely using this term to categorize its aspirations and emphasize the significance of the polar regions to their national interests. China's focus on becoming a polar great power represents a fundamental re-orientation - a completely new way of imagining the world. China's push into these regions encompasses maritime and nuclear security, the frontlines of climate change research, and the possibility of a resources bonanza. As shown in this book, China's growing strength at the poles will be a game-changer for a number of strategic vulnerabilities that could shift the global balance of power in significant and unexpected ways.

'Using Chinese and non-Chinese sources, Brady (Univ. of Canterbury, New Zealand) has written the first comprehensive English book on China’s policies toward the Arctic and Antarctic. Recommended.'

Z. Zhu Source: Choice

'Brady opens up a new frontier of insight into an area of international relations all but ignored by Western scholarship.'

Andrew Erickson Source: Foreign Affairs

‘Brady's fact-filled book is well-written and revelatory. It deserves a wide audience, for anyone interested in the future of either polar region will find it both instructive and interesting.’

Jeff Rubin Source: The Polar Times