US Coast Guard responds amid spike in Chinese marine activity near Alaska since 2021

The hegemon China again uses so called research ships to probe other countries resolve.

If the Arctic region loses some of its ice coverage, it may become a major shipping route in the future.

"The US Coast Guard in July made a rare announcement: Off the coast of Alaska, within a maritime zone known as the extended continental shelf, the service detected a Chinese research vessel. 

Then came a similar announcement in August. This time, five Chinese research ships were spotted operating in American Arctic waters. The Coast Guard, in conjunction with US Northern Command, the Pentagon’s combatant command tasked with defending the homeland, deployed units to observe the Chinese flotilla.

Come September, yet again, two Chinese-flagged research ships were spotted northwest of Alaska. And once more, the Coast Guard announced the deployment of ships and aircraft to monitor their activity."

Coast Guard 'naming and shaming' amid spike in Chinese activity near Alaska - Breaking Defense "Coast Guard and Pentagon officials told Breaking Defense China has steadily increased its patrols near the northernmost state since 2021."

... China-flagged research ship Xue Long 2 on the U.S. Extended Continental Shelf (ECS) in the U.S. Arctic, approximately 290 NM north of Utqiagvik, Alaska, July 25, 2025. ...