Chinese state media released photos and footage on Wednesday to commemorate the country’s first coastguard patrol in the Arctic, conducted in a joint exercise with Russia. The Coastguard ships entered the Arctic Ocean on Tuesday, China’s national day, which the US closely monitored. The two countries also took part in extensive air and sea drills last month.
China’s state broadcaster, CCTV, reported that the recent exercise was the first joint coastguard exercise between the two countries. Four ships travelled to the Arctic from the North Pacific. The joint maritime patrols aim to enhance coordinated law enforcement at sea and expand the operational capabilities of China’s coastguards, stated by CCTV.
China’s coastguard stated that the operation significantly expanded the range of offshore operations, thoroughly tested vessels’ ability to carry out missions in unfamiliar waters, and provided strong support for actively participating in international and regional maritime governance.
The latest patrols have been watched closely by the United States as Moscow and Beijing expand their cooperation in the Arctic. The US coastguard said it had spotted two Russian ships and two Chinese vessels sailing northeast through the Bering Sea that separates Russia from Alaska on Saturday, about 8km (5 miles) inside Russia’s exclusive economic zone. It is the furthest north that the US has spotted Chinese coastguard vessels.
“This recent activity demonstrates the increased interest in the Arctic by our strategic competitors,” said Rear Admiral Megan Dean, commander of the 17th Coast Guard District.
Russia and China have been collaborating to develop new sea routes in the Arctic as the ice melts due to global warming. In August, Chinese Premier Li Qiang and his Russian counterpart, Mikhail Mishustin, signed a joint communique to work on developing Arctic shipping routes. Russia aims to transport more oil and gas to China to offset the impact of Western sanctions, while China seeks alternative shipping routes to reduce its dependence on the Southeast Asian Strait of Malacca.
The United States has warned about the increasing cooperation between China and Russia in the Arctic, claiming that it could potentially impact regional stability. Both China and Russia have denied this claim. In a report released in July, the Pentagon stated that Russia has bolstered its military presence in the Arctic by reopening and modernizing several bases and airfields abandoned after the Soviet era. Additionally, China is seeking easier access to resources in the region and has made substantial investments in polar exploration and research in order to establish a “Polar Silk Road.”
Team BharatShakti (With inputs from Reuters)
