The U.S. Coast Guard said it is monitoring two Chinese research vessels heading for Arctic waters, a first foray this year since Chinese vessels made a similar expedition in September 2025.
The 548’x74’ Xue Long headed north through the U.S. exclusive economic zone (EEZ) and over the U.S. extended continental shelf in the Bering Sea with a declared destination of the Arctic, the Coast Guard reported in a July 17 statement. The 402’x73’ Xue Long 2, another China-flagged research vessel, was likewise transiting to the Arctic.
The 418’x54’ Coast Guard Legend-class cutter Munro “executed Operation Frontier Sentinel to actively monitor the vessels during their northbound transit,” according to the Coast Guard statement. “This operation 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.”
Under international law, foreign vessels are permitted to operate within the U.S. EEZ and over the U.S. extended continental shelf. Coast Guard monitoring aims to ensure their activities comply with international law, and marine scientific research requires advance permission from the United States and subsequent sharing of data.
In recent years, the Coast Guard has reported heightened activity in the U.S. Arctic and is anticipating continued and increased presence in the region this summer.
