The U.S. Coast Guard has been actively monitoring Chinese research activities in the Arctic. Earlier this week, the Coast Guard shadowed two Chinese vessels near Alaska. The Chinese Foreign Ministry has not yet responded to requests for comment regarding the incident.

China has positioned itself as a "near-Arctic state" and claims a stake in regional affairs, despite its geographical distance from the Arctic. Since last month, a fleet of five Chinese research ships has been deployed for Arctic missions, which the U.S. Coast Guard notes is part of a three-year trend of increasing Chinese activity in the region. In response to this growing presence, along with Russia's military activities, the Pentagon has called for a stronger U.S. posture and enhanced capabilities in the Arctic.

The Coast Guard reported that the two Chinese research vessels, the Zhong Shan Da Xue Ji Di and the Ji Di, were operating in the Arctic Ocean on the U.S. Extended Continental Shelf (ECS) near Alaska from Sunday to Tuesday. The ECS extends beyond 230 miles from Alaska's coastline, while the U.S. territorial sea and exclusive economic zone (EEZ) extend up to 13.8 miles and 230 miles, respectively. The Zhong Shan Da Xue Ji Di was located approximately 230 miles north of Utqiagvik on Sunday, and the Ji Di was spotted about 265 miles northwest of Utqiagvik two days later.

To monitor the situation, the U.S. Coast Guard dispatched the USCGC Healy, its most advanced polar icebreaker, to observe and query the Chinese vessels. The Healy has been patrolling the Arctic alongside the national security cutter USCGC Waesche since Saturday. Additionally, the USCGC Storis, the first U.S. polar icebreaker acquired in over 25 years, is operating in the Bering Sea and the Arctic to safeguard U.S. national security interests.

The U.S. Coast Guard describes the Arctic as an area of increasing strategic competition. It collaborates with U.S. Northern Command and Alaskan Command to continuously monitor foreign vessels operating in and near U.S. waters in the region. A Coast Guard spokesperson stated, "The U.S. Coast Guard is controlling, securing, and defending the northern U.S. border and maritime approaches in the Arctic to protect U.S. sovereignty."

China has expressed its commitment to maintaining peace and stability in the Arctic, emphasizing the importance of peaceful utilization of the region. The Chinese government has stated that it aims to protect lives and property while ensuring the security of maritime trade and operations.

Looking ahead, it remains uncertain whether the U.S. Coast Guard will encounter the remaining three Chinese vessels—Xue Long 2, Shen Hai Yi Hao, and Tan Suo San Hao—currently deployed in the Arctic. China is expected to maintain a consistent presence in the region.