China’s coast guard has announced that its vessels have entered the Arctic Ocean for the first time, conducting patrols alongside Russian ships. This move by Beijing is seen as an attempt to project power in a region where it has long sought influence. The Chinese vessels entered the Arctic Ocean during China’s seven-day public holiday marking the 75-year rule of the Chinese Communist Party. According to China’s defense ministry, this patrol expanded its coast guard’s ocean navigation scope and tested their vessel’s capability to perform tasks in unfamiliar waters.
The US Coast Guard reported that it observed two Chinese ships and two Russian ships navigating through the Bering Sea, marking the farthest northern point at which they have observed Chinese vessels. Rear Adm. Megan Dean, commander of the 17th Coast Guard District, stated that this recent activity demonstrates “the increased interest in the Arctic” by strategic competitors of the United States.
China claims to be a near-Arctic state and has expressed interest in accessing natural resources such as oil, natural gas, and rare earth metals in addition to developing shipping routes in this region. To achieve these goals, China has added a “Polar Silk Road” initiative to its Belt and Road Initiative.
The US Coast Guard has noticed an increase in military presence from both China and Russia near Alaska and the North Pacific. Vice Adm. Andrew Tiongson stated that while these vessels are within international waters, they are also part of their exclusive economic zone where they have sovereignty.
In response to these activities, Tiongson mentioned that their approach is to meet presence with presence by establishing communication with foreign vessels transiting through their exclusive economic zone.
The growing cooperation between China and Russia in the Arctic region has raised concerns for US officials who released a strategy report aiming to bolster US Arctic capabilities through increased cooperation with allies.
To address recent Russian and Chinese war games near US territory, more than 100 soldiers were deployed by the US Army to Shemya Island along with a guided missile destroyer and a US Coast Guard vessel.
This deployment demonstrates their ability to respond quickly with a ready force when faced with adversarial exercises around Alaska or throughout other regions.
