A Canadian warship was deployed to the Bering Strait in July to keep an eye on a Chinese polar research vessel as it navigated the passage between Russia and Alaska, underscoring Beijing’s growing interest in the region.
The HMCS Regina shadowed the Chinese Research Vessel Xue Long 2 sometime between July 7 when it left its home port of Esquimalt, B.C., and July 25 when it returned.
Although the federal government did not publicize this part of HMCS Regina’s trip to the Arctic Ocean, a National Defence spokesperson confirmed the encounter in an email to The Epoch Times Aug. 1.
National Defence media relations officer Andrée-Anne Poulin also confirmed a Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) naval task group was in the area.
“The ship and its embarked CH-148 Cyclone Air Detachment interacted safely and professionally with the Chinese Research Vessel Xue Long 2 throughout its transit through the Bering Strait,” Poulin said, adding that the Chinese task group vessels “remained in international waters at all times” and had “no encounters with HMCS Regina.”
National Defence declined to give further mission details, citing security protocol.
The U.S. Coast Guard reported the detection of Chinese navy vessels July 6 within the country’s exclusive economic zone that stretches 200 nautical miles from the coastline of Alaska.
The U.S. Coast Guard said the Chinese vessels replied to radio communications, saying their purpose in the vicinity was “freedom of navigation operations.”
The Coast Guard said it kept the Chinese task group under surveillance until all ships had crossed back into the Pacific Ocean.
Security Issues
The risk of foreign actors invading Canadian waters is on the rise as the region becomes more accessible, Poulin said.
Competitors are “exploring Arctic waters and the sea floor, probing our infrastructure and collecting intelligence,” she said. “We are seeing more Russian activity in our air approaches, and a growing number of Chinese dual-purpose research vessels and surveillance platforms collecting data about the Canadian North that is, by Chinese law, made available to China’s military.”
Poulin said China is increasingly growing its navy, including its nuclear-powered submarine fleet, as well as its investments, infrastructure and “industrial scientific influence throughout the Arctic region.”
Chinese encroachment in the Arctic is not a new issue. The country’s Snow Dragon icebreaker completed its first-ever voyage through Canada’s Northwest Passage in 2017.
Strained Relations
Canada’s monitoring of the Chinese ships occurred when Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly was preparing for an official visit to China to reinforce bilateral ties.
Concerns about the Chinese regime’s interference in Canadian politics have amplified the strain in relations that has existed between the two countries since the 2018 imprisonment of Canadians Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor. The men were detained in apparent retaliation for the arrest of Huawei executive Meng Wangzhou on a U.S. extradition warrant.
Beijing is also known to hassle Canadian military personnel.
The Department of National Defence (DND) said “several interactions” occurred between the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) aircraft and aircraft of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) during the one-month deployment from April 26 and May 26.
DND said the PLAAF did not adhere to international air safety norms, was unprofessional, and put the safety of RCAF personnel at risk during the interactions.