Canada and the United States have been discreetly monitoring two Chinese icebreaking research vessels in Arctic waters near Alaska for the past few weeks. The Chinese ships, named Xue Long (Snow Dragon) and Xue Long 2, traversed north through the U.S. exclusive economic zone in the Bering Sea in July, as reported by the U.S. Coast Guard.
The presence of Chinese research vessels in the Arctic Ocean during summers has raised concerns among security and defense authorities. Data from Steffan Watkins, an independent research consultant and ship tracker, indicates that a Royal Canadian Air Force CP-140 surveillance aircraft has been operational in Alaska since early July.
The Department of National Defence confirmed that the Canadian Joint Operations Command is actively monitoring the activities of the Chinese vessels in coordination with the U.S. The vessels are currently operating outside Canada’s exclusive economic zone, an area beyond territorial waters where the country holds rights over resources and jurisdiction over activities like research and marine environment protection.
In the previous year, the Canadian military initiated enhanced monitoring of northern waters and collaboration with Pacific allies in the Bering Sea through Operation Latitude. The Royal Canadian Navy has deployed HMCS Ottawa frigate, along with Arctic offshore ships HMCS Max Bernays and HMCS Robert Hampton Gray, in addition to the air force’s surveillance aircraft. Canadian Special Operations Forces Command personnel and the icebreaker CCGS Des Groseilliers are also participating in these efforts.
Defence Minister David McGuinty affirmed that the Canadian military actively monitors the country’s waters, while China, declaring itself a near-Arctic state, asserts that its icebreaker deployments to the region are solely for scientific research, environmental monitoring, and climate change studies. However, these research vessels have been known to deploy advanced buoys that track environmental changes and submarine activity.
Western defense officials highlight the multifunctional capabilities of Chinese research ships, including their use of sonar and telemetry buoys. Richard Shimooka, a defense researcher at the Macdonald-Laurier Institute in Ottawa, points out the significance of monitoring the regional subsea network in the Bering Sea, crucial for Alaska. He emphasizes Canada’s growing role in the western Pacific amid the U.S. Navy’s engagements in the Iran conflict but notes limitations due to the aging fleet.
Members of the House of Commons defense committee, observing increased Chinese activities in the Arctic, advocate for heightened surveillance and assets in the region. Conservative defense critic James Bezan stresses the need for bolstering capabilities to respond to foreign incursions and safeguard Canadian sovereignty in the Arctic, where energy resources are of strategic importance.
The federal government has embarked on significant investments in new destroyers, Arctic-capable submarines, and an undersea sensor network to strengthen Arctic defense. Bezan underscores the urgency in protecting Canadian maritime claims in the Far North from adversaries like Russia and China, emphasizing the importance of safeguarding Arctic resources and sovereignty.
