What does China’s first Arctic coastguard patrol with Russia reveal about its ambitions?

Analysts say mission underscores China’s view that non-Arctic nations ‘have the right to engage in civilian operations’ in the area

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Chinese state media has released images to mark its first coastguard patrol in the Arctic in a joint exercise with Russia. China says it is a “near-Arctic state” and has the right to patrol. Photo: Weibo/央视军事

Published: 12:00pm, 6 Oct 2024Updated: 3:07pm, 6 Oct 2024

The China Coast Guard’s first entry into the Arctic Sea during joint operations with its Russian counterpart showed an ability to operate far from its coast and a heightened level of cooperation with Moscow, analysts said.

The vessels’ entry into the sea on Tuesday coincided with the National Day holiday marking the 75th anniversary of the People’s Republic of China.

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China’s state broadcaster CCTV on Wednesday released photos and footage of the exercise.

Four ships – including the Chinese vessels Meishan and Xiushan – had travelled to the Arctic from the north Pacific, CCTV said, in what was the first joint coastguard exercise between the two countries.

According to the Chinese coastguard, the operation “significantly expanded the range of offshore operations, thoroughly tested vessels’ ability to carry out missions in unfamiliar waters and provided strong support for actively participating in international and regional maritime governance”.

The United States Coast Guard said it spotted four vessels from the Russian and Chinese coastguards carrying out a joint patrol on Saturday in the Bering Sea, which separates Alaska from Russia. It said the ships were transiting around 8km (5 miles) within the Russian exclusive economic zone, heading northeast.