The US Coast Guard (USCG) said it detected and responded to the China-flagged research icebreaker Xue Long 2 operating on the US extended continental shelf (ECS) in the Arctic on July 25.
The vessel, operated by the Polar Research Institute of China, was located approximately 290 nautical miles (537 kilometres) north of Utqiagvik, Alaska, and 130 nautical miles inside the US ECS boundary. A USCG C-130J Hercules aircraft from Air Station Kodiak responded to the vessel's presence.
“The US Coast Guard, alongside partners and other agencies, vigilantly monitors and responds to foreign government vessel activity in and near US waters to secure territorial integrity and defend sovereign interests against malign state activity,” said Rear Adm. Bob Little, Commander of the US Coast Guard Arctic District.
The responding aircraft was operating under the coast guard's Operation Frontier Sentinel, which the service described as being designed to, "meet presence with presence in response to adversary activity in or near Alaskan waters."