Canada and the United States have been discreetly monitoring two Chinese icebreaking research vessels in the Arctic waters near Alaska for the past few weeks. The Xue Long (Snow Dragon) and Xue Long 2 traveled 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 recent summers has raised concerns among security and defense officials. Data from Steffan Watkins, an independent research consultant and ship tracker, reveals that a Royal Canadian Air Force CP-140 surveillance plane has been operational in Alaska since early July.
The Department of National Defence confirmed that the Canadian Joint Operations Command is actively monitoring the movements of the two Chinese vessels in coordination with the United States. The vessels are currently operating outside of Canada’s exclusive economic zone, which refers to the area beyond territorial waters where the country holds sovereign rights to resources and jurisdiction over activities such as research and marine environment protection.
Last year, the Canadian military initiated Operation Latitude to enhance monitoring of 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 and the 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 efforts.
China, positioning itself as a near-Arctic state, maintains that its icebreakers are solely engaged in peaceful scientific research, environmental monitoring, and climate change studies in the region. However, concerns arise as both Chinese research ships have been known to deploy sophisticated sonar and telemetry buoys, which Western defense officials believe are utilized for tracking not only environmental changes but also submarine activity.
Richard Shimooka, a defense researcher at the Macdonald-Laurier Institute in Ottawa, highlighted the multifunctional capabilities of these research ships and questioned the extent of their activities, including potential mapping of vital subsea networks in the region.
Canada’s role in the western Pacific is increasingly significant, especially amid the U.S. Navy’s engagements in other regions. However, limitations exist due to the aging fleet of Canadian navy frigates and coast guard ships, which restrict the country from expanding its current operations.
Members of the House of Commons defense committee, including Conservative defense critic James Bezan, emphasized the need for enhanced surveillance in the Arctic to monitor China’s growing interest in the region. Investments are being made in constructing new destroyers, acquiring Arctic-capable submarines, and deploying undersea sensor networks to safeguard Canadian sovereignty and resources in the Far North.
Bezan stressed the urgency of these measures, emphasizing the importance of protecting Canada’s maritime claims in the Arctic, particularly in areas like the Northwest Passage, where significant energy resources are at stake. The government’s proactive steps aim to defend against potential threats from nations like Russia and China that do not recognize Canada’s jurisdiction in the region.
