China is still poking and prodding. In the latest, we see the United States Coast Guard warning us that Chinese "research vessels" are nosing around in the U.S. Arctic.
The Coast Guard warned of "increased Chinese research vessel activity" in the U.S. Arctic as it responded to multiple vessels in the region.
The agency said it recently "detected and responded to two Chinese research vessels operating in the U.S. Arctic and is currently monitoring a total of five similar vessels in or near the U.S Arctic."
"On August 5, a C-130J Hercules fixed wing aircraft from Air Station Kodiak responded to the Chinese research vessels Ji Di and the Zhong Shan Da Xue Ji Di. Both vessels were transiting northeast in the Bering Sea," the Coast Guard said.
"On August 6, the crew of U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Waesche (WMSL 751) again responded to the Zhong Shan Da Xue Ji Di as it was transiting north in the Chukchi Sea above the Arctic Circle, after passing through the Bering Strait," they added.
Now, part of this is the old Cold War "freedom of navigation exercise" game, that we've been playing since World War 2 - with China, with the Soviet Union/Russia, with Cuba, with North Korea, with pretty much every Communist regime that has any ocean frontage. It's a way of thumbing our nose at them and they at us, without the necessity of actually having to go to war.
But it's a safe bet there's more to it with these Chinese "research" vessels. It's more than likely that what they are doing isn't research - it's reconnaissance.
The Coast Guard released a photo of the Zhong Shan Da Xue Ji Di as taken from the C-130J Hercules. They noted that the aircraft and Waesche were "patrolling under Operation Frontier Sentinel, an operation that responds to adversaries operating in and around Alaskan and U.S. Arctic waters."
"In July, Coast Guard Arctic District deployed a C-130J Hercules fixed wing aircraft from Air Station Kodiak to query the Xue Long 2, another Chinese research vessel, approximately 290 nautical miles north of Utqiagvik, Alaska," the Coast Guard also said.
The sightings of the Chinese ships are part of a "three-year trend of increased activity" in the region, according to officials.
They could be up to a number of things, aside from some badly-needed practice in ship-handling.
Read More: Terrific! Chinese Ships Collide While Harassing Philippine Coast Guard
China has been ramping up its naval output, building ships and submarines. It's possible these ships are mapping the sea floor around these Alaskan and U.S. Arctic waters, the better to eventually deploy submarines there. This is something that China's still a ways from doing, but they do tend to think in the long term.
They could also be looking for resources beneath the icy waters. The Arctic is known to be a treasure trove, with vast oil and gas reserves; they are difficult to exploit, but not impossible. China is growing more energy-hungry by the day, and while they are encroaching on American waters with this "research," again, they do tend to take the long view.
Bear in mind that this is pure speculation, but that doesn't mean it's not likely.
China's not a friendly nation. They are an adversary, and one day they may be an enemy. They are sounding us out daily, and this is just another example of China's ambitions - and the fact that they may be growing just a little too big for their britches.
Watch the North Pacific. China and Russia are both interested in that area. In 1935, General Billy Mitchell, speaking of Alaska, said it was the "most strategic place on the planet." You could say that of much, probably most, of the Arctic, and competition for Arctic resources is only going to increase.
Editor’s Note: Thanks to President Trump and his administration’s bold leadership, we are respected on the world stage, and our enemies are being put on notice.
Help us continue to report on the administration’s peace through strength foreign policy and its successes. Join RedState and use promo code FIGHT to get 60% off your VIP membership.