Why Chinese warships near Alaska signal growing naval projection – and a message to Nato
- ‘Rare’ sightings in Aleutians come as Arctic region gains strategic importance for Russia and other nations, analysts say
Three Chinese military vessels were spotted about 200km (124 miles) north of the Amchitka Pass at the southwestern reaches of the Aleutian Islands. A fourth ship was spotted about 135km north of the Amukta Pass, also in the Aleutian Islands.
In a statement, the United States Coast Guard said that all four of the Chinese ships were transiting in international waters “in accordance with international rules and norms”, but were still inside the US exclusive economic zone (EEZ), which extends 200 nautical miles (370km) from the US coast.
The Chinese crews stated their purpose was “freedom of navigation operations” in radio communication. The vessels were monitored until they had sailed south of the Aleutians towards the North Pacific Ocean to ensure there were “no disruptions to US interests in the maritime environment around Alaska”, the coastguard said.
The latest sightings were the fourth consecutive year that Chinese military ships have been spotted in the region. In July 2023, Washington deployed destroyers near Alaska after the Chinese and Russian navies conducted joint patrols near the Aleutian Islands.
Troy Bouffard, director of the Centre for Arctic Security and Resilience at the University of Alaska Fairbanks, said the entry of the Chinese warships into the waters off Alaska was “rare” because of historical maritime constraints, which until recently, had mostly confined China to coastal operations.
“However, the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Navy has embarked on an ambitious trajectory to rapidly develop its blue-water capabilities, with a particular emphasis on naval force projection,” Bouffard said.
