China-Flagged Research Vessel Detected Near Alaska Coast
A Chinese research vessel was detected off the coast of Alaska, raising concerns about foreign activity in U.S. waters. The U.S. Coast Guard reported on Saturday that the icebreaker, known as the Xue Long 2, was located approximately 290 nautical miles north of Utqiagvik, Alaska. The vessel is operated by China’s Polar Research Institute and was found to be 130 nautical miles within the United States’ Extended Continental Shelf (ECS), an area that extends beyond 200 nautical miles from the coast.
The U.S. Coast Guard emphasized the importance of this region, stating, “The U.S. has exclusive rights to conserve and manage the living and non-living resources of its ECS.” The Coast Guard deployed a C-130J Hercules long-range surveillance aircraft to monitor the situation. In a statement, Rear Adm. Bob Little, commander of the U.S. Coast Guard Arctic District, affirmed the agency’s commitment to safeguarding territorial integrity and responding to foreign vessel activity.
This detection coincides with heightened military vigilance in the region. Earlier in the week, Canada’s CBC News reported that the Canadian military was also tracking the movements of the Xue Long 2. According to Maj. Alexander Naraine, a spokesperson for Canada’s joint operations centre, the vessel was “not currently in Canadian territorial waters.” The Canadian military has deployed a Lockheed CP-140 Aurora aircraft based out of Alaska to actively monitor the Chinese ship’s activities.
The situation in the Arctic has become increasingly complex. On Tuesday, four Russian military planes were detected flying near the Alaskan coast by NORAD (North American Aerospace Defense Command). These aircraft traversed a section of international airspace known as the Alaskan Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ). While this area is recognized as international airspace, it is designated for the identification of all aircraft due to national security concerns. NORAD indicated that the Russian planes remained within this international airspace.
In January 2024, American and Canadian fighter jets were deployed after Russian warplanes were spotted in the Arctic. NORAD confirmed that these Russian aircraft also remained in international airspace. Furthermore, during July 2024, the U.S. intercepted multiple Chinese and Russian bombers near the Alaskan coast, marking a significant moment as it was the first instance of both nations’ aircraft entering the Alaska ADIZ together. At that time, a U.S. defense official noted the unprecedented nature of Chinese H-6 bombers encroaching near Alaska.
The presence of vessels like the Xue Long 2 and the recent military activities underscore the strategic significance of the Arctic region. The U.S. and its allies are actively monitoring these developments to ensure the security of their respective territorial waters. As global interest in the Arctic continues to grow, the dynamics between nations operating in this area will remain closely watched.
