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 ships traversed 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 vessels in the Arctic Ocean during summers in recent years has raised concerns among security and defense authorities. Data gathered by independent research consultant and ship tracker, Steffan Watkins, reveals that a Royal Canadian Air Force CP-140 surveillance aircraft has been active in Alaska since early July.
The Department of National Defence confirmed on Friday that the aircraft has been monitoring the activities of the two Chinese vessels in coordination with the American authorities. Defense spokesperson Cheryl Forrest stated in a written communication that the Canadian Joint Operations Command is actively observing maritime traffic in the Arctic, specifically the Xue Long and Xue Long 2 vessels, which are currently operating outside Canada’s exclusive economic zone.
Last year, the Canadian military initiated a concentrated effort to enhance surveillance in northern waters and collaborate with allies in the Pacific region, including the Bering Sea off Alaska, under Operation Latitude. The Royal Canadian Navy has deployed 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.
Addressing inquiries about the Chinese ships, Defence Minister David McGuinty emphasized that the Canadian military actively monitors the country’s waters. China, asserting itself as a near-Arctic state, has stated that its icebreaker deployments in the region are solely for peaceful scientific research, environmental monitoring, and global climate change studies.
Despite China’s claims, both research ships have reportedly utilized advanced sonar and telemetry buoys. Western defense officials highlight that these devices not only monitor environmental changes and undersea topography but are also effective in tracking submarine activities.
Richard Shimooka, a defense researcher at the Macdonald-Laurier Institute in Ottawa, emphasized the versatility of the Chinese research ships in various operations. Shimooka expressed curiosity about the extent to which the Chinese are mapping the regional subsea network essential to Alaska, akin to Russian activities in the Baltic Sea and the North Atlantic.
Canada’s role in the western Pacific is increasingly crucial amidst the U.S. Navy’s engagements in the Iran conflict. However, Shimooka cautioned that due to the aging Canadian navy’s frigates and coast guard ships, the country may be limited in its capabilities beyond its current efforts. The Halifax-class patrol frigates, described as the backbone of the Royal Canadian Navy, are now between 30 and 40 years old.
During a visit to the Arctic in July, members of the House of Commons defence committee, including Conservative defense critic James Bezan, stressed the need for heightened surveillance in the region. Bezan emphasized the escalating interest of the People’s Republic of China in the Arctic and the necessity for enhanced monitoring to respond effectively to such activities.
The federal government has initiated substantial investments in constructing new destroyers, procuring Arctic-capable submarines, and deploying an undersea sensor network. Bezan underscored the urgency of bolstering Arctic protection efforts to safeguard the country’s sovereignty, especially in the face of challenges from Russia and China, which contest Canada’s maritime claims in the Far North, including the Northwest Passage, a region rich in untapped energy resources.