Both Canada and the United States have been discreetly tracking two Chinese icebreaking research vessels in Arctic waters near Alaska for the past few weeks. The Xue Long (Snow Dragon) and Xue Long 2 navigated 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 ships in the Arctic Ocean during summers has raised concerns among security and defense authorities. Data from independent research consultant and ship tracker Steffan Watkins show that a Royal Canadian Air Force CP-140 surveillance aircraft has been operational in Alaska since early July.
The Department of National Defence confirmed on Friday that the aircraft has been monitoring the activities of the two Chinese vessels in collaboration with the U.S. “The Canadian Joint Operations Command is actively surveilling maritime traffic in the Arctic, including the Xue Long and Xue Long 2 vessels,” stated defense spokesperson Cheryl Forrest.
Forrest mentioned that both ships are currently operating beyond Canada’s exclusive economic zone, which refers to the maritime area where the country holds sovereign rights over resources and jurisdiction concerning research and marine environment protection.
In the previous year, the Canadian military initiated a concerted effort to enhance monitoring of northern waters and coordinate with allies in the Pacific Ocean, particularly in the Bering Sea off Alaska, under Operation Latitude. The Royal Canadian Navy has deployed the frigate HMCS Ottawa and the Arctic offshore ships HMCS Max Bernays and HMCS Robert Hampton Gray, alongside the air force’s surveillance aircraft.
When asked about the Chinese ships, Defence Minister David McGuinty highlighted that the Canadian military actively monitors the country’s waters. China, identifying itself as a near-Arctic state, has consistently stated that its icebreakers are solely for peaceful scientific research, environmental monitoring, and climate change studies.
Despite these claims, both research vessels have been observed deploying advanced sonar and telemetry buoys, which, according to Western defense officials, are capable of tracking environmental changes, undersea topography, and submarine activity.
Richard Shimooka, a defense researcher at the Macdonald-Laurier Institute in Ottawa, emphasized the multifunctional capabilities of these research ships. Shimooka also raised concerns about the Chinese ships possibly mapping the regional subsea network crucial to Alaska, similar to Russian activities in the Baltic Sea and North Atlantic.
Canada’s role in the western Pacific has become increasingly vital, particularly as the U.S. Navy focuses on the Iran conflict. However, Shimooka warned that due to the aging frigates and coast guard ships in the Canadian navy, the country’s capacity is limited to its current operations.
Members of the House of Commons defense committee, including Conservative defense critic James Bezan, emphasized the need for increased surveillance in the Arctic region. Bezan highlighted China’s expanding interests in the Arctic and its collaboration with Russia in air activities, posing challenges to Canada’s response capabilities.
The federal government has initiated significant investments in constructing new destroyers, acquiring Arctic-capable submarines, and deploying an undersea sensor network. Bezan stressed the urgency of safeguarding the country’s sovereignty, especially in areas like the Northwest Passage, where Russia and China dispute maritime claims.
Overall, the increased presence of Chinese research vessels in Arctic waters has prompted heightened monitoring efforts by Canada and the United States to safeguard their interests in the region.
