The US is monitoring five Chinese icebreakers near Alaska, more than double the US’s Arctic-capable fleet, highlighting China’s growing presence in the region, according to The WarZone. While the vessels are in international waters, their activity reflects rising competition as melting ice opens new trade routes. The US is expanding its icebreaker program but remains far behind China and Russia in Arctic capabilities. They write:
The U.S. military and Coast Guard are monitoring the simultaneous appearance of five Chinese icebreaking vessels in the Arctic region near Alaska. That unprecedented presence represents two and a half times the number of icebreakers currently capable of being operated in the entire Arctic region by the U.S. Coast Guard. Another is scheduled to be commissioned on Sunday and plans are underway to build dozens more.
The Chinese icebreakers, which include a number of research-focused types, are being monitored by North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) and U.S. Northern Command (NORTHCOM), a NORTHCOM spokesperson told The War Zone Thursday evening. The presence of so many Chinese icebreaking ships near Alaska was first reported by the G Captain maritime news website. […]
The increased attention to the Arctic involves more than icebreakers. The region has seen significant investment in military resources, especially by Russia, which is massively expanding its aviation facilities at Nagurskoye Air Base, adjacent to its large Arctic Trefoil outpost.
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