U.S. Coast Guard Monitors Chinese Research Ships Xue Long and Xue Long 2 in Bering Sea Transit
The Coast Guard cutter Munro executed Operation Frontier Sentinel to actively monitor the vessels during their northbound transit.
BERING SEA — The U.S. Coast Guard monitored the Chinese research ships Xue Long and Xue Long 2 as they transited north through the U.S. exclusive economic zone and over the U.S. extended continental shelf in the Bering Sea, marking the first Chinese vessels tracked in this area this year.
The Coast Guard cutter Munro executed Operation Frontier Sentinel to actively monitor the vessels during their northbound transit.
The operation protects American sovereign rights, ensures consistency with international law, and positions the service to rapidly respond to any detected malign activity.
Foreign vessels are permitted to operate within the U.S. exclusive economic zone and over the U.S. extended continental shelf, but the service remains vigilant to ensure their activities comply with established international laws.
Conducting marine scientific research within this area would require advance permission from the United States and subsequent sharing of the information collected.
In recent years, the Coast Guard has observed heightened activity in the U.S. Arctic and anticipates a continued and increased presence in the region this summer.
Rear Adm. Bob Little, U.S. Coast Guard Arctic District commander, stated that the service, alongside the Department of War, the Department of State, and international partners, is actively responding to competitor activities across an increasingly contested Arctic.
The Chinese vessels form part of China’s 16th Arctic Ocean scientific expedition, which departed Dalian on July 3.
The fleet includes Xue Long, Xue Long 2, and Jidi, with Tansuo-3 expected to join later. The expedition is scheduled to continue until early October and focuses on surveys of sea ice, hydrology, biology, ecology, and atmospheric conditions in key Arctic areas.
Previous Coast Guard responses to Chinese research vessels in the U.S. Arctic occurred in 2025, including monitoring of Xue Long 2 approximately 290 nautical miles north of Utqiagvik on dates in July of that year and responses to multiple vessels operating over the U.S. extended continental shelf on August 5, August 6, and later dates in August and September 2025 under the same Operation Frontier Sentinel framework.
Vessel Transits and Monitoring
 | A guest post by
|