U.S. Coast Guard Encounters Chinese Military Ships In The Bering Sea

The United States Coast Guard encountered multiple People’s Republic of China military ships in the Bering Sea over the weekend, according to Coast Guard authorities.

On Saturday and Sunday, the crew of the US Coast Guard Cutter Kimball (WMSL 756) spotted three Chinese vessels about 124 miles north of Amchitka Pass in the Aleutian Islands.

An HC-130J aircrew from US Coast Guard Air Station Kodiak identified another vessel 84 miles north of the Amukta Pass.

While operating in international waters, the Chinese naval warships remained within the United States Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), which spans 200 nautical miles from the shoreline.

According to Rear Adm. Megan Dean, commander of the Seventeenth Coast Guard District, the Chinese naval deployment followed international regulations and conventions.

They matched presence with presence to ensure no interruptions to US interests in the maritime region near Alaska.

The Chinese ships responded to US Coast Guard radio communications, indicating their mission was “freedom of navigation operations.”

The Coast Guard Cutter Kimball monitored the Chinese ships until they passed south of the Aleutian Islands and into the North Pacific.

Kimball continues to patrol the US Exclusive Economic Zone to safeguard the safety of US vessels and international business in the region.

The US Coast Guard, in collaboration with the US Northern Command, had been monitoring the presence of the Chinese naval force.

Similar encounters with Chinese surface action groups occurred in the Bering Sea in September 2021 and 2022.

The Kimball patrol is part of Operation Frontier Sentinel, a Coast Guard operation that aims to match strategic competitors’ presence when they operate close to US waters.

The operation strengthens the international rule-based system and promotes adherence to international norms.

The Coast Guard Cutter Kimball, a 418-foot legend-class national security cutter, is homeported in Honolulu, Hawaii.

The cutter’s continued presence demonstrates the United States’ commitment to ensuring security and stability in maritime regions.

Reference: USCG

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