Over the weekend, the U.S. Coast Guard announced that two Chinese research vessels crossed into U.S.-owned Arctic waters, prompting the Coast Guard to launch Operation Frontier Sentinel to monitor the Chinese ships for illegal activity.
Xue Long and Xue Long 2 are the first Chinese-operated research vessels to cross into U.S. Arctic water this year. U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Munro (WMSL 755) executed the operation, which is “designed to protect American sovereign rights, ensure consistency with international law, and position the Coast Guard to rapidly respond to any detected malign activity.”
The Coast Guard promises to remain vigilant, ensuring the ships’ activities comply with established international law. Any marine scientific research conducted within the U.S. exclusive economic zone (EEZ) and/or on the U.S. extended continental shelf will require advance permission from the United States and subsequent sharing of information collected.
“Alongside the Department of War, the Department of State, and our international partners, we are actively responding to competitor activities across an increasingly contested Arctic,” said Rear Admiral Bob Little, commander of the U.S. Coast Guard Arctic District.
