China has positioned five icebreakers near Alaska, in international waters, to monitor the activities of the United States, according to a report by The War Zone.
The presence of the Chinese vessels led the U.S. Coast Guard to begin constant surveillance in the region. In recent months, Chinese ships have been detected in different parts of the Arctic, taking advantage of melting ice to explore new strategic maritime routes, such as the Northern Sea Route, which significantly shortens the journey between Asia and Europe.
This movement highlights the disparity in naval capacity between the United States, China, and Russia in the Arctic. Currently, the U.S. has only two operational icebreakers in the region, while China already has five and Russia dozens. With nearly five decades without building new icebreakers, the United States plans to update its fleet only from 2029, putting it at a disadvantage in the growing race for control and exploration of the polar area.
To address this shortfall, the United States, in partnership with Canada and Finland, formed the Icebreaker Collaboration Effort (ICE Pact), an agreement for the exchange of information, training, and encouragement of joint purchases of icebreakers produced in these countries. Recently, major shipyards from these nations announced an alliance to accelerate the construction of new ships, including the first heavy icebreaker ordered by the U.S. Coast Guard in 50 years, which will be built by Bollinger Shipyards in Seattle.
Source: Militarnyi | Photo: X @USCG | This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team
Meeting presence with presence. Yesterday, a @USCG aircraft responded following detection of a Chinese research vessel off Alaska’s coast.
For over 150 years, Americans have counted on the Coast Guard to uphold U.S. sovereignty, provide national security, and promote economic… pic.twitter.com/SAgCbzFTNA
— U.S. Coast Guard (@USCG) July 26, 2025
