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 Xue Long (Snow Dragon) and Xue Long 2 ships sailed 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 ships in the Arctic Ocean during summer has raised concerns among security and defense officials. Data from independent research consultant Steffan Watkins showed that a Royal Canadian Air Force CP-140 surveillance plane has been active in Alaska since early July.
The Canadian Department of National Defence confirmed that the surveillance plane has been observing the activities of the two Chinese vessels in coordination with the U.S. forces. Both ships are currently operating outside of Canada’s exclusive economic zone, an area beyond territorial waters where the country holds sovereign rights over resources and jurisdiction regarding research and environmental protection.
Last year, the Canadian military initiated Operation Latitude to enhance surveillance in northern waters and collaborate with allies in the Pacific Ocean, including the Bering Sea off Alaska. The Royal Canadian Navy has deployed the frigate HMCS Ottawa, along with the 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.
China, asserting itself as a near-Arctic state, has stated that its icebreakers are dedicated to peaceful scientific research, environmental monitoring, and climate change studies in the region. Despite these claims, the Chinese research vessels have been known to deploy advanced sonar and telemetry buoys, which Western defense officials believe are utilized for tracking submarine activities.
Richard Shimooka, a defense researcher at the Macdonald-Laurier Institute, highlighted the multifunctional capabilities of the Chinese research ships. He expressed concerns about the potential mapping of regional subsea networks by the Chinese, similar to Russian activities in other sea regions.
Canada’s role in the western Pacific has become increasingly significant, especially in light of the U.S. Navy’s engagements elsewhere. However, due to the aging fleet of Canadian navy frigates and coast guard ships, there are limitations to the country’s current capabilities.
Members of the House of Commons defense committee, including Conservative defense critic James Bezan, have emphasized the need for enhanced surveillance in the Arctic region. Bezan highlighted the growing interest of China in the Arctic and emphasized the importance of investing in Arctic defense to safeguard national sovereignty.
The federal government has initiated substantial investments in constructing new destroyers, acquiring Arctic-capable submarines, and deploying an undersea sensor network to bolster Arctic defense capabilities. Bezan stressed the urgency of bolstering Arctic defenses, especially considering challenges from countries like Russia and China that do not acknowledge Canada’s maritime claims in the region.