Canada and the United States have been discreetly monitoring the movements of two Chinese icebreaking research vessels in the Arctic waters near Alaska for the past few weeks. The ships, named Xue Long (Snow Dragon) and Xue Long 2, traversed northward through the U.S. exclusive economic zone in the Bering Sea in July, as confirmed by the U.S. Coast Guard.
The presence of Chinese research vessels in the Arctic Ocean during summer has raised concerns among security and defense officials in recent years. Satellite data collected by independent research consultant Steffan Watkins revealed that a Royal Canadian Air Force CP-140 surveillance plane has been operating in Alaska since early July.
The Department of National Defence stated on Friday that the Canadian Joint Operations Command is actively monitoring the activities of the two Chinese vessels in collaboration with American counterparts. These vessels are currently operating beyond Canada’s exclusive economic zone, an area where the country holds sovereign rights over resources and jurisdiction regarding research and environmental protection activities.
Last year, the Canadian military initiated Operation Latitude, a focused effort to enhance monitoring of northern waters and coordinate with allies in the Pacific Ocean, including the Bering Sea off Alaska. The Royal Canadian Navy has deployed various assets, such as the frigate HMCS Ottawa, Arctic offshore ships HMCS Max Bernays and HMCS Robert Hampton Gray, along with the air force’s surveillance aircraft. Canadian Special Operations Forces Command personnel and the icebreaker CCGS Des Groseilliers are also participating in these activities.
China, asserting its status as a near-Arctic state, maintains that its icebreakers are primarily engaged in peaceful scientific research, environmental monitoring, and climate change studies in the region. However, these research ships have been known to deploy advanced sonar and telemetry buoys, which Western defense officials highlight as tools for tracking submarine activities and environmental changes.
As Canada plays a growing role in the western Pacific, defense researcher Richard Shimooka stresses the importance of monitoring the activities of Chinese vessels, especially in the context of advancing age of Canadian naval assets. The House of Commons defense committee members, including Conservative defense critic James Bezan, have emphasized the need for increased surveillance in the Arctic to address the growing interest of China and Russia, which pose challenges to Canada’s sovereignty in the region.
The Canadian government has invested significantly in constructing new destroyers, acquiring Arctic-capable submarines, and deploying an undersea sensor network to bolster its presence and protect its interests in the Arctic region. Bezan underscores the urgency in these efforts to safeguard Canada’s sovereignty and maritime claims in the Far North, where valuable energy resources are at stake.
