What China is up to in the Arctic

The article did have a lot of opinion in it with limited information based on facts.

Most northern powers have been looking toward the thawing north passages for decades. The shortest distance from Portland, Maine to St Petersburg is about the width of the US. Greenland is of huge strategic value, holding a similar value to Alaska. The shortening of shipping lanes will shape global economics, as well as stoking the fears of other powers establishing footholds in northern regions, for the foreseeable future.

China aggressively projects power, with a willingness to spend a large amount of effort (sand islands) for footholds. Notably, by the time the evidence of these artificial islands was observed, it was too late to reconsider. Russia does the same, when they have the resources. The US is not used to doing this and has historically fared poorly. Ofc there is worry.

It will have far more impact in the climate of all the world. Ice reflects sunlight, deep water absorbs it, the rate of the planet heating up rises, positive feedback loops should be scary for a reason. At least for something that is not just a new narrow path but a significant portion of ice cover missing on that general area.