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By Ryan Chan
China News Reporter
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The United States is monitoring a fleet of Chinese research vessels operating in Arctic waters near Alaska in support of "homeland defense and security," the Coast Guard said.
China's Foreign Ministry did not immediately respond to a written request for comment.
China has always conducted normal maritime activities in relevant waters in accordance with international law, Beijing's Embassy in Washington, D.C., previously told Newsweek.
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Why It Matters
The Arctic, increasingly accessible because of climate change, has become a geopolitical and military frontier between the West and Russia, as well as China. The East Asian power has long called itself a "near-Arctic state" and an important stakeholder in regional affairs.
Up to five Chinese research vessels have been deployed simultaneously on Arctic missions since earlier this month. This aligns with a three-year trend of increased Chinese maritime activity in the region, the U.S. Coast Guard said.
What To Know
In a press release on Saturday, the U.S. Coast Guard revealed that its Arctic District sent a C-130J long range surveillance aircraft from Kodiak Island—south of mainland Alaska—on Wednesday to query Chinese research vessels operating in what it called U.S. Arctic waters.
The vessels were identified as the Xue Long 2, the Shen Hai Yi Hao, the Zhong Shan Da Xue Ji Di, the Ji Di, and the Tan Suo San Hao. It is unclear how they responded to the query.
The U.S. Coast Guard said that, in conjunction with U.S. Northern Command and Alaskan Command, it constantly monitors foreign vessels operating in and near U.S. waters.
Northern Command provides command and control of the Pentagon's homeland defense efforts, while Alaskan Command conducts those missions within its area of operations.
U.S. waters include the territorial sea, exclusive economic zone (EEZ), and extended continental shelf (ECS), which extend up to 13.8 miles, 230 miles, and beyond 230 miles from the coastline, respectively.
According to captions on photos provided by the U.S. Coast Guard, all five Chinese research vessels were operating over the U.S. ECS when they were spotted by the C-130J aircrew.
Amid growing "strategic global competition" in the Arctic, the U.S. Coast Guard said it recently commissioned two ships in Alaska—the polar icebreaker USCGC Storis and the fast response cutter USCGC Earl Cunningham—to strengthen the U.S. presence in the region.
The ships' commissioning increased the ability to control, secure and defend Alaska's maritime borders and approaches, Arctic District commander Rear Admiral Bob Little said.
What People Are Saying
Rear Admiral Bob Little, commander of the U.S. Coast Guard Arctic District, said in a press release on Saturday: "As we continue to grow our surface fleet, we utilize our aviation resources which play a vital role in countering foreign malign influence."
The U.S. Coast Guard said in a press release on August 8: "The presence of these [Chinese] vessels is consistent with a three-year trend of increased activity from Chinese research vessels operating in the U.S. Arctic. Last year, three Chinese research vessels conducted research operations north of the Bering Strait."
What Happens Next
It remains unclear how long the Chinese research vessels will operate in the Arctic near Alaska. The U.S. and its ally Canada may increase their presence in the region in response.
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