The U.S. Coast Guard sends the icebreaker ‘Healy’ to monitor Chinese research vessels off the coast of Alaska.

The U.S. Coast Guard has responded to two Chinese research vessels operating in waters off Alaska’s northern coast, highlighting growing strategic competition in the rapidly changing Arctic region.

Between Aug. 31 and Sept. 2, Coast Guard assets were deployed to monitor the Chinese-flagged research vessel JIDI, which is located approximately 265 miles northwest of Utqiagvik, and the Liberian-flagged Chinese research vessel Zhong Shan Da Xue Ji Di, located about 230 miles north of Utqiagvik.

Both ships were operating over the U.S. Extended Continental Shelf and are part of a group of five Chinese ships recently active in Arctic waters.

The Coast Guard Arctic District deployed the USCGC Healy (WAGB-20) to monitor and interrogate both vessels, with additional air support from an HC-130J Hercules aircraft from Kodiak Air Station.

“This operation underscores the value of our ice-capable fleet,” said Rear Adm. Bob Little, commander of the U.S. Coast Guard’s Arctic District. “The U.S. Coast Guard controls, secures, and defends the U.S. northern border and maritime approaches in the Arctic to protect U.S. sovereignty,  and the Healy‘s operations demonstrate the imperative need for more Coast Guard icebreakers to achieve this.”

The response operations were conducted as part of the Coast Guard Arctic District’s Operation Frontier Sentinel, designed to counter adversarial activity in U.S. waters.

Prior to responding to the Chinese vessels, Coast Guard Cutters Waesche (WMSL 751) and Healyconducted a joint patrol in the Arctic Ocean, part of the service’s commitment to maintain a presence in the region.

In August, the Coast Guard bolstered its capabilities in the Arctic with the commissioning of the Cutter Storis (WAGB 21) in Juneau. The Storis currently operates in the Bering Sea and the Arctic to protect U.S. national security interests.

The five Chinese research vessels operating in the region have been identified as: Xue Long 2 (China-flagged), Shen Hai Yi Hao (China-flagged), Zhong Shan Da Xue Ji Di (Liberian-flagged), Ji Di (China-flagged) and Tan Suo San Hao (China-flagged).

According to Rear Admiral Little, “The commissioning of Storis and Earl Cunningham increases our ability to control, secure, and defend the U.S. border and Alaska’s sea approaches. As we continue to expand our surface fleet, we use our aviation resources, which play a vital role in countering foreign malign influence.”

The Coast Guard continues to monitor Chinese activity in the region.