However, many of China’s initial, ambitious Arctic objectives soon collided with political and logistical realities. China’s Arctic comeback has been multifaceted to say the least. For example, the China-Nordic Arctic Research Center (CNARC) have provided outlets for Chinese collaboration with research centers in Northern Europe, but also an opportunity for China to advertise an Arctic agenda based on “win-win” collaboration. This distinct focus on Northern Europe suggests that in addition to Chinese policymakers now drawing distinctions between the “NATO Arctic” and the “Russian Arctic,” there is now a growing acknowledgement of the “Nordic Arctic” in Beijing’s thinking. In addressing Beijing’s “Arctic 2.0” strategy, it is essential for northern governments and the wider international community to understand how Chinese Arctic goals have changed – and which have not.