US Coast Guard responds to increased Chinese research vessel activity in Arctic

The US Coast Guard (USCG) has detected and responded to two Chinese research vessels operating in the US Arctic and is currently monitoring a total of five similar vessels in or near the region. The USCG noted the presence of these vessels is consistent with a three-year trend of increased activity.

On August 5, a C-130J Hercules aircraft from Air Station Kodiak responded to the Chinese research vessels Ji Di and Zhong Shan Da Xue Ji Di as they were transiting in the Bering Sea. The following day, on August 6, the USCG Cutter Waesche again responded to the Zhong Shan Da Xue Ji Di as it was transiting north in the Chukchi Sea, above the Arctic Circle.

The USCG responses were conducted under “Operation Frontier Sentinel”, which the service stated is intended to, “counter malign activities, defend sovereign interests, and promote maritime conduct consistent with international law".

This follows a similar incident in July when a USCG aircraft was deployed to query another Chinese research vessel, the Xue Long 2.