WASHINGTON (TND) — There are growing concerns around a combined Russian and Chinese naval patrol off the coast of Alaska as leaders in Washington warn about Chinese spying operations here in the U.S.
According to Congressional leaders, there were 11 foreign military vessels from China and Russia operating near Alaska.
We have been in close contact with leadership from Alaska Command for several days now and received detailed classified briefings about the foreign vessels that are transiting U.S. waters in the Aleutians,” said Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska."
This is a stark reminder of Alaska’s proximity to both China and Russia, as well as the essential role our state plays in our national defense and territorial sovereignty. Incursions like this are why we are working so hard to secure funding and resources to expand our military’s capacity and capabilities in Alaska, and why our colleagues must join us in supporting those investments.
"The incursion by 11 Chinese and Russian warships operating together – off the coast of Alaska – is yet another reminder that we have entered a new era of authoritarian aggression led by the dictators in Beijing and Moscow,” added Sen. Dan Sullivan, R-Alaska. “In recognition of this reality and our state’s unrivaled strategic location, for years, I’ve been pressing the Navy and each successive administration to commit to a greater Naval, Coast Guard, and Marine Corps presence in Alaska, more Arctic-capable vessels, and more infrastructure to host these assets, like the deep-water port of Nome.
Last summer the Chinese and Russian navies conducted a similar operation off the coast of Alaska. Given that our response was tepid, I strongly encouraged senior military leaders to be ready with a much more robust response should such another joint Chinese/Russian naval operation occur off our coast," Sullivan continued.
"For that reason, I was heartened to see that this latest incursion was met with four U.S. Navy destroyers, which sends a strong message to Xi Jinping and Putin that the United States will not hesitate to protect and defend our vital national interests in Alaska."
Brent Sadler, a 26-year Navy veteran and Senior Research Fellow of Naval Warfare and Advanced Technology, Center for National Defense at the Heritage Foundation, called the operation of the Alaskan coast the largest of its kind and provocative.
"It's the largest combined Russian and Chinese naval act activity to approach U.S. coast," he said. "It's provocative because both parties are involved in very aggressive and belligerent behavior. Russia, of course, in an open conflict in Ukraine, against the wishes of the wider world's pursuit for peace, and China has been flexing its muscles its military muscles around Taiwan for the last year, as well as bullying partner countries in the South China Sea."
NORAD and USNORTHCOM actively monitored the Russian and Chinese combined naval patrol that operated near Alaska earlier this week. Air and maritime assets under our commands conducted operations to assure the defense of the United States and Canada. The patrol remained in international waters and was not considered a threat," a U.S. Northern Command spokesperson explained to The National Desk.
Even though top U.S. military officials say this flotilla is not a risk, military experts are on high alert because of the latest evidence of Chinese intel operations in the U.S.
Last week the Justice Department announced two U.S. Navy servicemembers were arrested for sending military information to China.
“The Ministry of State Security in China, its main intelligence gathering and espionage gathering organization, it also functions as a sort of domestic secret police within China," explained Rep. Mike Gallagher, R-Wis., during a recent interview with Fox News. "It’s far larger than the CIA. It’s operating widely within the United States, we need to raise awareness and make sure we’re guarding against this."
U.S. military needs to remain vigilant," explained Sadler. "The other part of this is that political leaders here in D.C. need to start calling out the Chinese explicitly for their activities.
Sadler says if the U.S. doesn't respond strongly, "we may see an even larger, even more provocative naval presence off our shores."
Sinclair’s chief political correspondent Scott Thuman was on assignment for Full Measure back in 2021 and rode along on patrol where the Coast Guard says they have been seeing an uptick of Russian vessels.
“I can definitely say that it's increased throughout my time in Alaska," Cmdr. George Cottrell told Thuman. "We certainly take that responsibility seriously.”
"Their vessels are definitely out there and our vessels are out there as well."
