Chinese Military Ships Spotted in US Exclusive Economic Zone Recently, a routine patrol conducted by a US Coast Guard cutter in the Bering Sea made an unexpected discovery: several Chinese military vessels within the US-exclusive economic zone. The incident occurred approximately 124 miles north of the Amchitka Pass in the Aleutian Islands.
According to Coast Guard officials, three vessels were initially detected by the crew, with a fourth spotted shortly afterward by a helicopter from Coast Guard Air Station Kodiak, about 84 miles north of the Amukta Pass.
All four Chinese ships were observed transiting in international waters but well within the US Exclusive Economic Zone, which extends 200 nautical miles from the US shoreline. Despite their presence within this zone, Rear Adm. Megan Dean of the Seventeenth Coast Guard District emphasized that the Chinese naval activity adhered to international rules and norms.
“The Chinese naval presence operated by international rules and norms,” Rear Adm. Dean stated. “We met presence with presence to ensure there were no disruptions to US interests in the maritime environment around Alaska.” The US Coast Guard Cutter Kimball, based in Honolulu, was the vessel that encountered the Chinese ships.
This isn’t the first time such an incident has occurred. Previously, in September 2022, Kimball encountered a guided missile cruiser from China in the Bering Sea. Similar encounters were reported in September 2021, when Coast Guard cutters encountered Chinese ships approximately 50 miles off the Aleutian Islands.
ALSO READ: “China Warns NATO Against Provoking Confrontation Over Its Ties with Russia”
The United States military frequently conducts freedom of navigation operations in disputed waters globally, particularly in areas such as the South China Sea, where China asserts extensive territorial claims. These operations are intended to assert the principle of freedom of navigation, which the US considers vital to its national interests.
Responding to such incidents, the US maintains a policy of monitoring and asserting its presence in the waters surrounding Alaska and other strategic areas. The presence of Chinese military vessels in the US Exclusive Economic Zone highlights ongoing tensions and the importance of maritime security and international law in these regions.
Comments