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Time of India
3 days ago
- Science
- Time of India
Beijing at US' doorsteps: Tensions flare as China's Xue Long 2 moves into US waters — here's what happened next
Chinese research icebreaker enters U.S. extended continental shelf waters near Alaska- In a new display of growing maritime tensions in the Arctic, the Chinese icebreaker Xue Long 2 entered the waters north of Alaska's coast, prompting a swift and visible response from the U.S. Coast Guard. The incident occurred on July 25, 2025, when the Chinese vessel was detected approximately 290 nautical miles north of Utqiagvik, Alaska—well within what the United States claims as its Extended Continental Shelf (ECS). While not within territorial waters, the ECS grants the U.S. exclusive rights to explore and manage natural resources on or beneath the seafloor, such as oil, gas, and minerals. According to U.S. officials, the Xue Long 2's activity within this sensitive Arctic zone triggered deployment of a C-130J Hercules aircraft from Air Station Kodiak as part of Operation Frontier Sentinel, a U.S. operation designed to monitor and respond to foreign activity near American maritime claims. 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The Extended Continental Shelf is an increasingly critical geopolitical space as climate change opens new Arctic shipping lanes and exposes previously unreachable mineral and energy deposits. While the ECS lies outside of the U.S. 200-nautical mile Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), it is recognized under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) as an area where coastal nations have sovereign rights to seabed resources. Although the U.S. has not ratified UNCLOS, it adheres to its principles in practice and has spent years mapping the Arctic seafloor to support its ECS claims. The Xue Long 2's presence within this area is seen by American officials as a challenge to those claims and part of a broader strategy by China to establish itself as a legitimate Arctic player—despite being a 'near-Arctic' nation geographically. Coast guard sends aerial surveillance to monitor Chinese vessel Rear Admiral Bob Little, commander of the U.S. Coast Guard Arctic District, stated that the Coast Guard acted quickly to "establish presence with presence", echoing its policy of proactive enforcement of U.S. rights and responsibilities in the Arctic. Live Events The aircraft performed a flyover and established visual contact with the Xue Long 2 but made no physical attempt to alter its course or intervene directly. The response was largely symbolic but strategically important—it demonstrates to both domestic and international audiences that the U.S. will defend its maritime claims, especially amid rising tensions in the polar regions. This aerial deployment was not an isolated incident. The Coast Guard regularly patrols Arctic waters during the summer season, when ice levels retreat and allow for increased shipping, research, and exploration activity. Canada joins monitoring effort as Arctic cooperation gets tested Canada also closely followed the Xue Long 2's movements. Using a CP-140 Aurora surveillance aircraft operating from Alaska under joint agreements, Canadian forces confirmed the vessel did not enter Canadian territorial waters. This collaboration reflects a growing U.S.-Canada security alignment in the Arctic, especially as both nations navigate increasing foreign interest from Russia and China. This comes just weeks after U.S. officials tracked Chinese and Russian navy vessels conducting joint exercises in the Bering Sea, another hot-button region where geopolitical interests are overlapping. Such moves are seen as part of a larger effort by China and Russia to test boundaries, provoke reactions, and gather intelligence in the Arctic theater. China defends its presence, claims lawful scientific activity China's state-run Global Times responded critically to the U.S. reaction. In its editorial, the newspaper accused the U.S. of 'hyping the China threat' and insisted that the Xue Long 2 was engaged in lawful scientific research, conducted in line with international norms. Beijing has long maintained that its Arctic research program is peaceful and focused on climate, oceanography, and marine biodiversity. However, Western analysts remain skeptical, pointing to the dual-use nature of many Chinese maritime platforms and the strategic data that such missions can gather. The Global Times also challenged the legitimacy of the U.S. ECS claim, noting that it is a 'unilateral assertion' not recognized globally, and highlighted that the U.S. has yet to formally join UNCLOS—the very treaty underpinning its shelf claim. U.S. icebreakers step up presence in key Arctic zone Interestingly, the incident occurred while the USCG Cutter Healy, the Coast Guard's most advanced icebreaker, was deployed about 500 nautical miles east of the Chinese vessel, conducting its own Arctic science missions. Another key vessel, the USCGC Storis, had also just arrived in Alaska for its Arctic commissioning scheduled in August 2025. These deployments reflect Washington's effort to modernize its Arctic capabilities. The Coast Guard has publicly acknowledged that it is behind in icebreaker capacity when compared to Russia and even China. The arrival of the Storis is part of a broader modernization push to ensure the U.S. has credible and constant Arctic access as interest in the region skyrockets. The strategic significance of the Arctic continues to grow This incident isn't isolated—it is part of a much broader geopolitical contest over the Arctic. As melting sea ice opens up new routes and access to untapped energy reserves, nations like the U.S., China, Russia, and Canada are intensifying their efforts to assert control over vast, resource-rich areas that were once largely inaccessible. The presence of Chinese vessels—particularly dual-use scientific and research ships like the Xue Long 2—is now a regular point of concern for U.S. defense and maritime agencies. These operations often blur the line between civilian science and strategic surveillance, raising questions about long-term Chinese intentions in the region. Operation frontier sentinel becomes more important for Arctic security The U.S. Coast Guard's Operation Frontier Sentinel has become a critical tool in deterring foreign incursion and ensuring American visibility in contested maritime zones. Established to monitor and respond to foreign research and military vessels operating near or within U.S.-claimed waters, the program plays a vital role in projecting American sovereignty and defending national interests. While no confrontation occurred during the flyover of the Xue Long 2, the message was clear: the U.S. is watching and will not allow unmonitored foreign activity in its claimed zones—especially those as strategically vital as the Arctic. What's next: Arctic diplomacy or growing confrontation? As Arctic maritime activity continues to increase, incidents like this are likely to become more frequent. The U.S. will need to strike a delicate balance between enforcement of maritime rights, scientific cooperation, and avoidance of direct conflict. At the same time, nations like China will keep pushing for influence in the region, using scientific missions as soft-entry tools into geopolitically sensitive waters. Ultimately, the real challenge may lie in forming multilateral Arctic agreements that prevent escalation and promote transparency, while still respecting national interests and resource rights. But as the ice melts, competition for the Arctic's riches is heating up—and so is the race for influence. FAQs: Q1: Why did the U.S. Coast Guard respond to the Chinese icebreaker Xue Long 2? Because it was operating inside the U.S. Extended Continental Shelf near Alaska. Q2: What was the Chinese vessel Xue Long 2 doing near Alaska? China says it was doing legal scientific research in Arctic waters.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Science
- Yahoo
Chinese research ship detected off Alaskan coast, Coast Guard says
A China-flagged research vessel was detected Friday off the coast of Alaska, the U.S. Coast Guard said. The Coast Guard reported Saturday that the Xue Long 2, an icebreaker, was detected about 290 nautical miles north of Utqiagvik, Alaska, in the North American Arctic. The Xue Long 2 is operated by China's Polar Research Institute. The ship was in the U.S.'s Extended Continental Shelf, or ECS, which is a portion of the continental shelf that goes beyond 200 miles nautical miles off the coast, according to the State Department. The ship was determined to be 130 nautical miles inside the ECS. "The U.S. has exclusive rights to conserve and manage the living and non-living resources of its ECS," the Coast Guard said in its news release. A Coast Guard C-130J Hercules, a long-range surveillance aircraft, responded to the ship. The Coast Guard also released a photo of the vessel. "The U.S. Coast Guard, alongside partners and other agencies, vigilantly monitors and responds to foreign government vessel activity in and near U.S. waters to secure territorial integrity and defend sovereign interests against malign state activity," said Rear Adm. Bob Little, commander of the U.S. Coast Guard Arctic District, in a statement. CBS News reached out the Coast Guard for clarification on how it was dealing with the vessel. Earlier this week, Canada's CBC News reported that the Canadian military was monitoring the movements of the Xue Long 2 in the Arctic. In a statement provided to the CBC Tuesday, Maj. Alexander Naraine, a spokesperson for the military's joint operations centre said that the Xue Long 2 was "not currently in Canadian territorial waters." Canada was using a Lockheed CP-140 Aurora aircraft based out of Alaska to "actively" monitor the Chinese ship, Naraine said. This comes after four Russian military planes were spotted and tracked flying near the Alaskan coast Tuesday by North American Aerospace Defense Command. The aircraft flew through a section of international airspace called the Alaskan Air Defense Identification Zone. While the Alaska ADIZ is considered part of international airspace, it is defined as an area where sovereign U.S. airspace ends but "that requires the ready identification of all aircraft in the interest of national security," according to NORAD. In January, American and Canadian fighter jets were scrambled after Russian warplanes were also spotted in the Arctic, NORAD said. The Russian warplanes remained in international airspace. And in July 2024, the U.S. intercepted several Chinese or Russian bombers near the Alaskan coast. At the time, a U.S. defense officials said it marked the first time ever that Russian and Chinese aircraft have jointly entered the Alaska ADIZ, and the first time Chinese H-6s have encroached off Alaska. While many believe 10,000 steps a day is optimal, new study suggests different DOJ's closed-door meetings with Ghislaine Maxwell fuels pardon speculation California artist brings Bob's Big Boy statues back to life Solve the daily Crossword
Miami Herald
3 days ago
- Politics
- Miami Herald
Mapped: US Coast Guard Intercepts Chinese Ship Off Alaska
A new Newsweek map tracks a Chinese research vessel that was operating deep in the Arctic, north of Alaska, when it was intercepted by a United States Coast Guard aircraft last week. The Chinese ship Xue Long 2-an icebreaker designed for operations in polar regions-was previously monitored by the Canadian military as it entered Arctic waters from East Asia. Newsweek has contacted the Chinese defense and foreign ministries for comment via email. China asserts itself as a "near-Arctic state" and an important stakeholder in Arctic affairs. It has steadily expanded its presence in the region-which is surrounded by NATO members and Russia-by deploying ships and conducting research, some of which may have military applications. The U.S. has been alarmed by China's presence in the Arctic-including its cooperation with Russia-and the Pentagon, in an updated Arctic strategy, calls for an increased military presence, enhanced intelligence capabilities and greater cooperation with America's allies to address Chinese activity. A U.S. Coast Guard C-130J aircraft "detected and responded" to the Xue Long 2's presence on the U.S. Extended Continental Shelf (ECS) in the Arctic-approximately 333 miles north of Utqiagvik, Alaska, the U.S.' northernmost community-on Friday, the Coast Guard revealed. The ECS-which the Coast Guard stated in a Saturday press release the U.S. has exclusive rights to "conserve and manage the living and non-living resources" within-refers to the portion of the continental shelf extending beyond 230 miles from the country's coastline. The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) defines the continental shelf as the submarine areas extending beyond the territorial sea of a coastal state, following "the natural prolongation of its land territory to the outer edge of the continental margin." In comparison, U.S. territorial waters and exclusive economic zones extend up to 13.8 miles and 230 miles from the country's coastline, respectively, according to UNCLOS. The Xue Long 2 was detected operating 149 miles inside the ECS boundary, the Coast Guard said. The Coast Guard aircraft was deployed as part of Operation Frontier Sentinel, a mission aimed at meeting presence with presence in response to adversary activity in or near Alaskan waters. A Coast Guard vessel also recently patrolled the Bering Sea off the coast of Alaska. According to the U.S. State Department, the U.S. has ECS claims in the Arctic, Atlantic waters off the East Coast, the Bering Sea, Pacific waters off the West Coast, the Mariana Islands, and two areas in the Gulf of America-also known as the Gulf of Mexico. Rear Admiral Bob Little, commander of the U.S. Coast Guard Arctic District, said in a press release on Saturday: "The U.S. Coast Guard, alongside partners and other agencies, vigilantly monitors and responds to foreign government vessel activity in and near U.S. waters to secure territorial integrity and defend sovereign interests against malign state activity." The U.S. State Department said of the U.S. Extended Continental Shelf Project: "All coastal States with an ECS have an inherent interest in knowing, and declaring to others, the outer limits of their ECS and thus where they are entitled to exercise sovereign rights. Defining the U.S. ECS outer limits in geographical terms provides the specificity and certainty necessary to manage the resources of the ECS." Details of the Xue Long 2's mission in the Arctic remain unclear. The U.S. and Canada are expected to continue monitoring the Chinese ship as it operates in waters off their coastlines. Related Articles Cartel 'Headed By Maduro' Added To US Terrorist ListUS Issues Urgent Travel Warning For Two NationsIndia's New Deals Leave US to Catch UpGreatest Baseball Players of All Time, According to Science 2025 NEWSWEEK DIGITAL LLC.
CBS News
5 days ago
- General
- CBS News
Chinese research ship detected off Alaskan coast, Coast Guard says
A China-flagged research vessel was detected Friday off the coast of Alaska, the U.S. Coast Guard said. The Coast Guard reported Saturday that the Xue Long 2, an icebreaker, was detected about 290 nautical miles north of Utqiagvik, Alaska, in the U.S. Arctic. The Xue Long 2 is operated by China's Polar Research Institute. The ship was in the U.S.'s Extended Continental Shelf, or ECS, which is a portion of the continental shelf that goes beyond 200 miles nautical miles off the coast, according to the State Department. The ship was determined to be 130 nautical miles inside the ECS. "The U.S. has exclusive rights to conserve and manage the living and non-living resources of its ECS," the Coast Guard said in its news release. A Coast Guard C-130J Hercules, a long-range surveillance aircraft, responded to the ship. The Coast Guard also released a photo of the vessel. "The U.S. Coast Guard, alongside partners and other agencies, vigilantly monitors and responds to foreign government vessel activity in and near U.S. waters to secure territorial integrity and defend sovereign interests against malign state activity," said Rear Adm. Bob Little, commander of the U.S. Coast Guard Arctic District, in a statement. CBS News reached out the Coast Guard for clarification on how it was dealing with the vessel. Earlier this week, Canada's CBC News reported that the Canadian military was monitoring the movements of the Xue Long 2 in the Arctic. In a statement provided to the CBC Tuesday, Maj. Alexander Naraine, a spokesperson for the military's joint operations centre said that the Xue Long 2 was "not currently in Canadian territorial waters." Canada was using a Lockheed CP-140 Aurora aircraft based out of Alaska to "actively" monitor the Chinese ship, Naraine said. This comes after four Russian military planes were spotted and tracked flying near the Alaskan coast Tuesday by North American Aerospace Defense Command. The aircraft flew through a section of international airspace called the Alaskan Air Defense Identification Zone. While the Alaska ADIZ is considered part of international airspace, it is defined as an area where sovereign U.S. airspace ends but "that requires the ready identification of all aircraft in the interest of national security," according to NORAD. In January, American and Canadian fighter jets were scrambled after Russian warplanes were also spotted in the Arctic, NORAD said. The Russian warplanes remained in international airspace. And in July 2024, the U.S. intercepted several Chinese or Russian bombers near the Alaskan coast. At the time, a U.S. defense officials said it marked the first time ever that Russian and Chinese aircraft have jointly entered the Alaska ADIZ, and the first time Chinese H-6s have encroached off Watson, Emily Mae Czachor and Stephen Smith contributed to this report.
