Hello everyone! Have you ever wondered what happens when the U.S. Coast Guard comes face-to-face with foreign military ships in our own backyard? Well, buckle up because we’ve got an exciting story from the Bering Sea that you won’t want to miss.
Picture this: A U.S. Coast Guard cutter on a routine patrol spots several Chinese military ships, not just anywhere but within the U.S. exclusive economic zone (EEZ). This EEZ extends 200 nautical miles from our shores, giving us special rights over marine resources. So, what’s the deal with these Chinese ships?
It all started when the crew detected three Chinese vessels about 124 miles north of the Amchitka Pass in the Aleutian Islands. Then, a helicopter aircrew from the Coast Guard’s Kodiak station spotted a fourth ship roughly 84 miles north of the Amukta Pass. The Coast Guard’s statement highlighted that these vessels were in international waters but still within the U.S. EEZ. The Chinese explained they were conducting “freedom of navigation operations.”
Rear Adm. Megan Dean, commander of the Seventeenth Coast Guard District, stated, “The Chinese naval presence operated in accordance with international rules and norms. We met presence with presence to ensure there were no disruptions to U.S. interests in the maritime environment around Alaska.” This means our Coast Guard was right there, ensuring everything stayed peaceful and lawful.
The U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Kimball, a 418-foot ship based in Honolulu, was on the scene. There’s no rule requiring foreign nations to notify us before entering our EEZ, but the Chinese vessels did respond when contacted by the Coast Guard. The Kimball and an aircrew monitored these ships until they moved south of the Aleutian Islands and into the North Pacific Ocean.
This encounter is part of a larger pattern. Just last week, the Chinese navy started its annual joint patrol with the Russian navy in the Pacific Ocean, a tradition that saw over ten ships off Alaska’s coast last August. And in previous years, similar sightings have occurred, showing a consistent presence of Chinese and sometimes Russian military ships near our waters.
Last weekend, a flotilla of four Chinese Navy vessels was detected near the Aleutian Islands and the Bearing Strait, approximately 100 nautical miles off the coast of Alaska; The flotilla remained in international waters and was monitored by US Coast Guard ships that at some… pic.twitter.com/3g16HYT08Z
— Global Info Factory (@GlobalInfoFact) July 11, 2024
U.S. Sen. Dan Sullivan of Alaska expressed concerns, saying, “Our military needs to be ready for increasing Chinese and joint Chinese and Russian military activity near Alaska’s coast.” He emphasized the importance of being prepared for rising activity in the Arctic and reassured Alaskans that the military is vigilant.
This incident is part of a broader context. The U.S. often conducts freedom of navigation operations in contested waters, especially in Asia, to assert our rights and support our allies. When Chinese ships call their operations “freedom of navigation,” they’re essentially making a show of force, much like the U.S. does in places like the Taiwan Strait.
Aaron Davenport, a retired senior Coast Guard officer, explains that this is China flexing its muscles in a region the U.S. considers part of its sphere of influence. It’s a complex dance of international relations, where every move sends a message.
🚨🇺🇸BREAKING: 11 RUSSIAN AND CHINESE WAR SHIPS SITTING LESS THAN 100 MILES OFF COAST OF ALASKA🚨
Multiple Chinese and Russian military ships were spotted by the U.S. Coast Guard in the waters off Alaska, officials said in a news release on Wednesday. 🇷🇺🇨🇳
Three vessels were… pic.twitter.com/KiZRGFJNel
— The News You Dont See (@Crazynews4real) July 11, 2024
So, folks, there you have it. A real-life maritime drama unfolding in our very own Bering Sea. What do you think about these developments?
