A Chinese research ship returns to Arctic waters – It seems Canada is watching
The Canadian army, as well as the Coast Guard, appeared to have returned to Alaska Arctic waters for the second consecutive year, and has remained on the Chinese research ship on the Chinese research ship.
Data compiled by independent researchers and ship tracker Steffan Watkins shows that Canadian Air Force CP-140 surveillance aircraft flew near Xue Long (Snow Dragon) 2 as it left the wooden strait on Sunday.
According to Watkins’ research, the plane moved from its base in Comox, B.C. to Anchorage, Alaska on July 9. Since then, it has conducted four patrols, including the latest one involving the ship, the first polar research vessel built in China in China.
Although publicly available flight tracks showed the patrol route of CP-140, the Department of Defense has not confirmed the aircraft’s existence and said it could not immediately answer questions about deployment.
The Air Force appears to have picked up where the Canadian Coast Guard left.
Coast Guard says it is monitoring illegal fishing
The Chinese ice boat left Shanghai on July 6, sailed to Japan a few days later, and then headed north into Russian waters.
Watkins wrote in his latest post: “See Long 2 has been blocked in Japan.
Data shows that the Coast Guard ship is in contact with Xue Long 2 until it passes through the Bering Strait between Alaska and Russia.
When asked about Sir Wilfrid Laurier’s mission, the Coast Guard first provided a cautious response and pointed out to CBC News a June 9 media release that the ship would conduct high maritime patrols in the North Pacific to oppose “illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing.”
Then late Monday, the agency denied that it was covering Xue Long 2.
It said the Coast Guard’s stated mission is to focus on “migrating routes for major species like Pacific salmon.”
However, when ship tracking data is covered by public data about salmon migration routes, only one-third of the recent voyages involve known salmon paths.
The ship’s helicopters are also planning to patrol with Japanese Canadian fishery officials to “surveillance fishing boats and support partner countries to ensure compliance with international law,” the statement said.
Prime Minister Mark Carney has pledged to expand the coverage, security mandate and capacity of the Canadian Coast Guard as part of the Liberal Government’s plan to strengthen the country. Ultimately, the federal government intends to integrate civilian institutions currently under the Department of Fisheries into Canada’s NATO defense capabilities, as Carney said last June, “better secure our sovereignty and expand maritime surveillance.”
Last summer, the Royal Canadian Navy sent a frigate to monitor the surveillance of Xue Long 2 during the Arctic voyage – the Ministry of Defense’s mission took more than a week to admit.
Military experts describe the Chinese ice research vessel as a dual-purpose vessel – indicating that it has military or defense capabilities.
Canada is planning a massive Arctic military expansion, adding it to several months each year and inviting more NATO forces to join. The move aims to advocate sovereignty and respond to pressure from US President Donald Trump.
Michael Byers, an Arctic expert at the University of British Columbia, said he believes Canadian officials need to do more harm to the security threat they believe the ship posed.
“People actually have to do proper threat assessments,” Byles told CBC News in an interview.
Byles acknowledged that Chinese ships may be collecting military-related data, but he questioned whether the term “dual use” relies on assumptions rather than evidence.
Relations with China continue to be tense, Byles said statements about what the Chinese are “possible escalation” rather than statements that require careful examination in the Arctic.
Having said that, he fully supports military and coast guard surveillance activities.
“As a country about China, we are very worried about the rise of military power, and obviously China is very supportive of Russia in its invasion of Ukraine,” Byers said.
“So yes, if Chinese government ships are sailing anywhere near the U.S. or Canada, then, yes, we will monitor them.”
