The China Coast Guard (CCG) announced that, for the first time, it has entered the waters of the Arctic Ocean as part of a joint patrol with Russia. This fact marks a key moment in the growing cooperation between both countries in a region, which has become increasingly relevant and has become more strategic due to climate change and the new maritime routes that are opening up.
Although the exact location of the patrol was not revealed, Chinese authorities stated that this action “effectively expanded the scope of the coast guard’s ocean navigation” and tested its ability to carry out missions in unknown waters.
Greater coordination in the Arctic
The GCC’s entry into the Arctic Ocean highlights the growing collaboration between Russia and China in an area they both consider vital to their national interests.
Beijing has been working for years to increase its presence in the Arctic region, strengthening its capabilities in icebreaker construction and scientific research.
For its part, Russia, as one of the eight Arctic states, has not always been willing to open its doors to Chinese influence in the area, although the current geopolitical reality appears to be driving a change in this dynamic.
Meanwhile, the United States observes the progress of this collaboration with concern. China’s presence in the Arctic is seen as a direct challenge to US and Canadian interests in the region, where military and naval dominance has traditionally been considered a pillar of security.
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The United States and its concern for the Arctic
Washington’s response to China’s arrival in the Arctic has been one of alert. The US Coast Guard (USCG) has expressed concern regarding the growing cooperation between Russia and China in this territory.
Last year, a strengthening of maritime law enforcement collaboration was agreed between the GCC and the Russian Federal Security Service. In addition, the Asian giant was invited to observe Russian security drills, such as the Arctic Patrol-2023, a fact that underlines the growing strengthening of relations between both countries in the field of maritime security.
Adding to the growing CCG activity was that last July, US and Canadian forces intercepted Russian and Chinese bombers flying in formation near Alaska for the first time.
Also, during the years 2022 and 2023, the navies of these two countries operated together in international waters near the coast of Alaska, an increase in military cooperation that worries North American authorities.
Looking at the broader context, the recent statement about the joint patrol came a day after the USCG claimed to have sighted four Russian and Chinese vessels in the Bering Sea, a region stretching between Russia and Alaska, and which is part of the North Pacific Ocean. This activity took place about five miles inside Russia’s Exclusive Economic Zone, an area the United States considers part of its sphere of influence.
China’s ambitions in the Arctic
Analysts and experts have pointed out that the presence of the Chinese Coast Guard in these waters is not a simple coincidence. Considering that this force is part of the Chinese People’s Armed Police, under the command of the Central Military Commission, its entry into the Arctic is seen as a manifestation of Beijing’s strategic ambitions in the region.
Since its 2018 Arctic policy, China has outlined a vision of a “Polar Silk Road,” which seeks to link Asia and Europe through the development of sea routes, including the Northern Maritime Route.
This approach not only reveals the economic interests of the Asian country, but also its desire to expand its influence in a territory that is becoming increasingly relevant due to the polar melting and potential access to natural resources.
Recent activity in the Arctic highlights a number of challenges and changes in the geopolitical dynamics of the region. In this regard, the United States and its allies will have to reevaluate their security and defense strategies in a context where Russian and Chinese activities in the area are increasingly coordinated and visible.
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