The U.S. Coast Guard spotted four vessels from the Russian Border Guard and Chinese Coast Guard conducting a joint patrol in the Bering Sea on Saturday.
While patrolling the maritime boundary between the United States and Russia on routine patrol in the Bering Sea, a HC-130J Super Hercules airplane crew from Coast Guard Air Station Kodiak observed the vessels approximately 440 miles southwest of St. Lawrence Island, which is located southwest of Nome. Savoonga and Gambell, the villages on the island, are about 45 miles from the shoreline of Russia.
The Russian and Chinese vessels were moving in formation in a northeast direction, but stayed about five miles inside the Russian Exclusive Economic Zone.
This event is the northernmost location where Chinese Coast Guard vessels have been spotted by the U.S. Coast Guard.
“This recent activity demonstrates the increased interest in the Arctic by our strategic competitors,” said Rear Adm. Megan Dean, commander of the 17th Coast Guard District. “The demand for Coast Guard services across the region continues to grow, requiring continuous investment in our capabilities to meet our strategic competitors’ presence and fulfill our statutory missions across an expanding operational area.”
The HC-130 aircrew is operating under Operation Frontier Sentinel, which is designed to meet presence with presence when strategic competitors operate in and around U.S. waters.
The Coast Guard’s presence strengthens the international rules-based order and promotes the conduct of operations in a manner that follows international law and norms.
Russian and Chinese presents along the waterways that separate the nations is becoming more frequent. Last month, the Pentagon sent 130 paratroopers to Shemya, an island in the Aleutian Chain, equipped with mobile missile launchers, in response to the regular occurrence of these sightings.
Also last week, a Russian fighter jet came within feet of a U.S. military jet that was on patrol along Alaska’s coast. The buzzing of the U.S. Air Force jet was a provocation unlike any seen in recent years.
The drastic increase in the Bering Sea from both Russia and China has only increased in the last few years. We have always had a presence from Russia in this area but now the combination of the CCP with the Russians should make the US rethink their posture as it comes to Alaska. Senator Sullivan has made mention of it here in the last month that it maybe time to rethink forward stationing troops on the Aleutian Chain.
The buying of a U.S. fighter jet would not surprise me with Biden at the helm, but MRA probably meant bullying, though the U.S. aircraft likely did not change course.
Yep, typo. Meant “buzzing.” – sd
Chinese Coast Guard? Their coast is about 6000 miles distant. These are practice runs just in case Harris gets elected. If Trump gets in, they will scat like rats scurrying for cover.
I don’t know. I’m expecting the lights out in lame duck.
Hope the snow isn’t to deep.
They know we are weak right now.