US watches Chinese research ships near Alaska, Arctic

Senior US military officials are maintaining close oversight of Chinese maritime activity off the coast of Alaska and into the High North, citing potential implications for US homeland security.

In 2026, four Chinese research vessels have been documented conducting operations off the coast of the US Arctic, following a total of five observed throughout 2025, according to Rear Admiral Bob Little, Commander of the US Coast Guard’s Arctic District.

Speaking at an Arctic security conference in Oslo, Rear Adm. Little stated that the vessels operated in maritime areas surrounding Alaska, including the Aleutian Islands, through the Bering Strait, and reaching as far north as the North Pole.


"Where I have responsibility, interest and concern is when they are operating in and around US sovereign space," Little said. "So inside of our exclusive economic zones, or over our extended continental shelf, we certainly have a security concern. And so those are the types of activities that we see that we're watching very closely."

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While remaining in international waters, the Chinese vessels did not utilize diplomatic channels to issue advance notification to the United States regarding their presence, which is customary practice for such missions.

"When we challenge them and query them as to the purpose of their activities, their response typically is either 'we are conducting operations in international waters' or 'we are conducting scientific research'," Little noted.

US officials maintain two primary concerns regarding these deployments. First, there is apprehension that Chinese research may focus on identifying seabed mineral resources within regions subject to US sovereignty or jurisdiction. Second, officials note that the dual-use nature of scientific data gathering could potentially yield defensive advantages.

Little highlighted the risk that these operations might "provide them (the Chinese) with a military advantage or pose a security threat to the United States."

Beijing, which has identified China as a "near-Arctic state" and promoted a "Polar Silk Road" initiative, has steadily expanded its presence across the region through both independent missions and cooperative ventures with Russia.

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During his visit to Norway, Little met with international counterparts to review similar operational patterns involving Russian research vessels in European polar waters, referencing strategic similarities between the Atlantic and Pacific Arctic sectors.

"Whether it's the Barents (Sea) or the Baltic (Sea), it's easy to find examples of hybrid threats and activities," Little said, noting the proximity of Russian operations. "So I certainly watch that very carefully, because it's the same nation-state that's my neighbour on the western side of the Arctic."

Moscow has consistently rejected claims that its research vessels engage in unlawful activities or present security risks to US interests.