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Called the embassy to the carpet

This had consequences. On September 3, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (UD) summoned the Chinese embassy in Oslo for a meeting following the anniversary celebration at "Yellow River Station." During the meeting, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs informed the Chinese embassy about the expectations for the Chinese research delegation as tenants in Ny-Ålesund. – The Ministry of Foreign Affairs also emphasized that all activities in Ny-Ålesund should be civilian, writes Martine Røiseland in a response to NRK, on behalf of both the Ministry of Climate and Environment and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Røisland writes that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs also requested an explanation as to why "a person in military-like uniform" was present at the ceremony. – The embassy's explanation suggests that this was a private individual or cruise tourist who was wearing military-like attire because it was appropriate clothing in the Arctic wilderness, she writes.The embassy's explanation suggests that this was a private individual or cruise tourist who was wearing military-like clothing because it was appropriate attire for the Arctic wilderness, she writes. The Chinese embassy in Oslo writes to NRK that the tourists came on their own. – As far as we know, the cruise passengers you mentioned belong to a private tourist group that has traveled to Svalbard on their own. They do not have any official background, they write in an email to NRK. NRK and RFA have attempted to contact the woman in military uniform, but have not succeeded in getting a comment.

Posed in Chinese military uniform in Svalbard: – Provocative

The Chinese embassy was summoned for a meeting after the event in Ny-Ålesund.

This summer, Chinese researchers wanted to celebrate that it had been 20 years since they started research in Svalbard. In advance, the Norwegian authorities had set clear guidelines for the day. Norway indeed has sovereignty over the archipelago and serves as the host for all researchers here. The celebration turned out to be more remarkable than planned, as 183 cruise tourists with flags and banners showed up. Among them was a woman in a military uniform linked to the Chinese military. This is shown by investigations conducted by NRK in collaboration with the American media outlet Radio Free Asia (RFA).
– This can definitely be perceived as provocative. It clearly goes against Norwegian practice, says researcher Marc Lanteigne. It clearly contradicts Norwegian practice, says researcher Marc Lanteigne. What really happened in Svalbard on July 28 this year? An internal memo that NRK has gained access to explains why the Ministry of Foreign Affairs felt compelled to summon the Chinese embassy for a serious talk. Before the event, the Chinese Polar Institute (PRIC) had asked the Norwegian Polar Institute (NP) for permission to hang a banner over the entrance door of the building where they are located. NP, who leads the research station, forwarded the request to the Ministry of Climate and Environment (KLD), which they are under. Together, they agreed to say no. On July 28, the banner was still hung up, with yellow text on a red background. The text can be translated as follows: "Let's celebrate the 20th anniversary of China's Arctic research station 'Yellow River' with great enthusiasm!" "We do not see it as appropriate for the various institutions that rent space there to hang up banners, as we want a unified research station," says NP director Camilla Brekke about why they said no to the banner. What happened at the ceremony was perceived as so special for NP that it was followed by a diplomatic aftermath.

Showed up in military uniform

Early in the morning on the anniversary day, a cruise ship docked in Ny-Ålesund. "It must be assumed that the landing in Ny-Ålesund was coordinated with PRIC to coincide with the anniversary celebration," writes the Norwegian Polar Institute in the internal memo NRK has gained access to. Waving flags and with stickers on their faces, the cruise tourists were drawn to the entrance where the Chinese researchers were located. This type of celebration, with national symbols, is according to the NP note unwanted and an "unusual sight." A man climbed up on a container with a long selfie stick and filmed what happened. It shows a video NRK has seen from the incident. One of the passengers stood out particularly. In the midst of the procession of people in red sweaters, there was indeed a woman in camouflage uniform. This is a new Chinese military uniform from People's Liberation Army (PLA).

– Not a military uniform

The military uniform the woman was wearing is an official military uniform from 2023. Several sources tell NRK and RFA.
Dr. Ying Yu Lin is an assistant professor at Tamkang University in New Taipei City, Taiwan. Here, he conducts research on, among other things, the People's Liberation Army. He says that the woman is wearing a "Type 21" training uniform, which is called "21式作训服" in Chinese. This was adopted by China's Ministry of Defense in 2023. Here it is depicted on the Chinese Ministry of Defense's website: "The armband on her arm matches the armband of the People's Liberation Army," Dr. Lin tells NRK and RFA. He also emphasizes that it is strictly forbidden for non-military personnel to wear such a type of uniform. Pictures from Chinese official websites also show that the "Type 21" uniform is identical to the one the woman in the cruise entourage was wearing. Also in the report from the Norwegian Polar Institute, it is pointed out that the badge on the cap and on the arm is used by the People's Liberation Army in China. The Chinese Polar Research Institute, however, denies this. "The outfit she was wearing is a regular camouflage jacket, not a military uniform," they write in an email to NRK. NRK has examined several videos from Chinese social media in collaboration with RFA. In one of them, published by the Chinese tour operator Newayer, which organized the cruise to Ny-Ålesund, the woman states that she is a veteran of the People's Liberation Army. The same goes for seven other cruise tourists in the group. In the video, they perform a military salute on deck while a patriotic song plays in the background. At the front of the line stands the woman who wore the military uniform during the ceremony at "Yellow River Station." According to Lin, being able to show Chinese veterans waving national flags in the Arctic could serve as effective propaganda. – Within China, it symbolizes influence in a geopolitically significant region, he says. Lin says that China is testing the limits of how far they can go in this way.

– Demonstration of the country's Arctic ambitions

At the entrance of the building where the Chinese researchers are located, a TV screen had been set up. It showed the Chinese polar research activities in a loop, with Chinese speech and text. "When one also considers how the setup for photographing the crowd in front of the building was arranged and how the photography was carried out, it is likely that the images will be used by the Chinese authorities," states the note from the Norwegian Polar Institute. China has been clear that they have ambitions for increased presence in the Arctic. In 2018, they even decided to declare themselves a so-called near-Arctic state in their Arctic strategy. The station in Svalbard plays an important role in China's Arctic research. This research has recently been under scrutiny by a U.S. congressional committee. They express concern over China's increasing influence and access to strategically important areas in the Arctic, according to the American newspaper Newsweek. Marc Lanteigne, who is a professor of political science at UiT, points out that everything China does in Svalbard is deliberate actions. He is an expert on China's Arctic interests.
"When we talk about Russia and China, we are talking about authoritarian states." That means there really aren't any completely independent organizations, he says. "– All activity, no matter how civilian in nature, will result in information that eventually reaches the military," he says. According to Lanteigne, who last visited Ny-Ålesund this summer, it is well known that the Norwegian authorities do not want flags from the various nations outside the research stations. – You should keep national symbols to an absolute minimum. Lanteigne believes that China has already violated this protocol when they originally established the station. Then two lions were placed outside the "Yellow River Station." – These two lions were obviously very provocative. Most other stations had to settle for a small sign, he says. It was exactly these lions that several of the cruise tourists posed next to during the event in July, according to the note NRK has gained access to.

It was completely random with military on board Says it was completely coincidental with military on board

The Chinese Polar Institute has not responded to why they hung up the banner even though NP said no.
– Why did the marking happen? "As far as we know, the individuals you mention were tourists visiting Svalbard," writes the Chinese Polar Institute in an email to NRK. They further write that it is not unusual for cruise tourists to visit Ny-Ålesund. NRK and RFA have been in contact with the tour operator Newayer who organized the cruise. According to managing director Fan Li, they had coordinated the visit to "Yellow River Station" with the Chinese Polar Institute. The flags and stickers were something the tour operator says they had brought along. "The staff at Yellow River Station came out to talk to us, and everyone was very happy about it," says manager Fan Li. Li says that it is purely coincidental that there were many with a military background on board. Li says that it is purely coincidental that there were many with military backgrounds on board.

Notified other authorities

Director of the Norwegian Polar Institute, Camilla Brekke, says that the marking was "so remarkable" that they felt compelled to report it further.Director of the Norwegian Polar Institute, Camilla Brekke, says that the marking was "so remarkable" that they felt compelled to report it further. "This case, involving a person in a uniform that we believe belongs to the People's Liberation Army, was so special that we chose to inform the other Norwegian authorities about it," she says. The Norwegian Polar Institute also followed up the unexpected celebration by sending a letter to the Chinese Polar Institute. – We were then met with an explanation that they had a transition between the previous and current leader, and that there was a communication breakdown. We were also reassured that they would adhere to the guidelines and instructions that apply to the research in Ny-Ålesund, says Brekke.

Shipping company with eyes on Kirkenes is blacklisted by the USA

Several Chinese companies present in Norway are accused of having military ties.

The U.S. military has placed China's large shipping company China Ocean Shipping Company (Cosco) on its "blacklist."

The company has invested in ports internationally and has also shown interest in the port of Kirkenes.

The company is now on the U.S. Department of Defense's list of Chinese companies allegedly linked to the Chinese military, which Cosco denies.

Professor Kåre Dahl Martinsen at the Institute for Defense Studies wrote a book on geopolitical economic warfare last year. He says this is a clear signal from the American authorities.

– It is a signal from the USA to China that "we are keeping an eye on you."

– What kind of list is this?

– This is a warning list from the American authorities. They consider that this company serves the interests of the Chinese military and they warn American public actors against using it.

Interest in Kirkenes

Cosco has gained an increasingly stronger foothold in European ports in recent years.

They have established themselves in Rotterdam and Antwerp, and also manage the port of Piraeus in Athens, which is one of the most important ports in Europe.

As recently as 2022, Cosco also acquired a stake in the port of Hamburg in Germany, despite warnings from the EU Commission. They feared that sensitive information about the activities in the port could be sent to the Chinese authorities.

In Norway, the Intelligence Service has pointed this out and warned against it happening here as well.

Even though Cosco has an office in Norway, the group has no container ships or terminals in the country. They use local partners to transport their goods.

They offer shipping to and from the ports in Kristiansand, Brevik, Larvik, Oslo, Moss, Fredrikstad, Bergen, Ålesund, Tananger, Orkanger, Haugesund, Måløy, and Sortland.

In Kirkenes, the company has shown clear interest in further activity at the port there.

The mayor of Kirkenes, Magnus Mæland, believes that the U.S. "blacklisting" of Cosco illustrates how Kirkenes is a unique place that must deal with what happens in the rest of the world.

– We already know that the security authorities have been clear about the risks of Chinese presence. The relationship with China is a difficult balancing act where it is in Norway's interest to trade with China. But at the same time, we must be careful not to become dependent, says Mæland.

"It is clear that when Norway's closest allies blacklist companies, it is something the Norwegian authorities must take into account." This is complicated, and once again I must refer to the government on how this should be addressed, says the mayor of Kirkenes.

NRK has previously reported how the port manager in Kirkenes worked for a year and a half to establish a collaboration with Cosco.

According to Kirkenes port, the dialogue has revolved around leasing or using areas, but the port should still have Norwegian owners.

After NRK reported on the dialogue between Kirkenes port and the Chinese state-owned company, the government issued a clear message that they would not allow Chinese establishments.

Hope the Cosco-flirt is put on hold

Kåre Dahl Martinsen, who is a professor of Norwegian security policy at the Norwegian Defence University College, believes that the U.S. blacklisting of Cosco should have consequences for the assessment in Kirkenes.

– I hope this leads to the Cosco plans in Kirkenes being put on hold.

– Why is that?

"If this is a company that both the USA and the EU consider a tool for Chinese influence, then one must ask whether we should allow Kirkenes port to become a place where China can exert significant influence, when the port plays a key role in Norwegian preparedness," says Dahl Martinsen, referring to warnings against Cosco in the EU parliament.

Now he points out that Kirkenes is NATO's closest port to the Russian Northern Fleet.

– We are increasingly seeing that China and Russia are operating together. They are not there just for the sake of it.

Cosco responds

NRK has contacted Cosco Norway for a comment. They refer to a statement from the headquarters, which says they will contact the Pentagon to be removed from the list of companies that are warned against.

"Cosco Shipping and its subsidiaries have always followed local laws and regulations, and adhered to strict compliance in all international operations."

We emphasize that none of the mentioned companies are "Chinese military companies." We will work with U.S. authorities to clarify this. Being on this list does not entail any sanctions or export controls, and our global activities are not affected by this," the statement from the headquarters reads.

More companies on the list

The main purpose of the American list, according to U.S. authorities, is to identify and dissuade American companies from doing business with these entities. The list is updated regularly and was released in a new edition on January 7.

In addition to Cosco Shipping, several well-known Chinese companies were listed:

• Tencent – which owns Norway's largest gaming company Funcom
• CATL – the car battery manufacturer that supplies Tesla batteries
• China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC) – which is one of Equinor's Chinese partners

From earlier, other friends of Norway are also on the list:

• ChinaChem, which owns Elkem
• The technology company Huawei
• Drone giant DJI
• The video surveillance companies Hikvision and Dahua
• China Communications Construction Company (CCCC) is another state-owned company on the list, primarily engaged in engineering and construction activities.

The relevant ministries have not yet provided any answers to NRK's questions about the matter.