China has started its annual Arctic summer expedition, sending four key research vessels north. This move is part of its growing presence in the polar region, which has caught the attention of U.S. lawmakers and military strategists, especially after last year’s significant Chinese activities near Alaska.
According to the Chinese Ministry of Natural Resources, the icebreakers Xue Long (Snow Dragon) and Xue Long 2, along with the new polar research ship Jidi, set off from China on Friday to kick off the country's 16th Arctic scientific expedition, which will continue until October. The deep-sea research vessel Tan Suo San Hao is also expected to join the mission.
State media reports that the mission will focus on addressing climate change, studying marine ecosystems, and conducting atmospheric and oceanographic observations. It will also look into sea ice processes, environmental monitoring, and surveys aimed at promoting sustainable development in the Arctic.
This expedition follows the return of these vessels from China's Antarctic research mission earlier this year. Before heading north, both Xue Long and Xue Long 2 received maintenance and upgrades at Chinese shipyards, with Xue Long 2 recently finishing maintenance at Jiangnan Shipyard near Shanghai.
Last summer, China significantly increased its Arctic activities by sending five research vessels, including several icebreakers, into Arctic waters simultaneously. This was the largest deployment of its kind by China. The fleet included Xue Long 2, Jidi, Tan Suo San Hao, Shen Hai Yi Hao, and Zhong Shan Da Xue Ji Di, which operated in the Bering Sea, Bering Strait, and northern Alaska waters.
These vessels were closely monitored by U.S. Coast Guard cutters and maritime patrol aircraft while conducting scientific activities near Alaska’s extended continental shelf, highlighting the increasing competition in the Arctic region. U.S. officials have pointed out that while navigation is free in international waters, conducting scientific research within the U.S. extended continental shelf requires American approval.
These operations have led to calls for stricter oversight in Congress. Last month, U.S. senators proposed legislation requiring foreign research vessels, including those from China, to obtain U.S. authorization before performing marine scientific research in or near the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone and extended continental shelf. They argue that existing regulations may have gaps that could be exploited by competitors.
China refers to itself as a "near-Arctic state" and has steadily increased its investments in polar research, shipping, and infrastructure in the past decade, despite lacking an Arctic coastline. Beijing contends that its scientific activities help in understanding climate change and enhance knowledge about the rapidly changing region.
The vessels taking part in this year's expedition form the backbone of China’s growing polar fleet.
The Xue Long, originally constructed in Ukraine in 1993 as a cargo vessel before being converted into a research icebreaker, is about 167 meters long and has been China's main polar research platform for nearly 30 years.
Its successor, the Xue Long 2, which is 122.5 meters long, started service in 2019 as China’s first domestically built polar icebreaker. This vessel, weighing around 14,000 tons, is designed to meet Polar Class 3 standards.
The newer Jidi is an ice-class polar research vessel that supports various Arctic surveys, while Tan Suo San Hao is a state-of-the-art deep-sea research ship built to Polar Class 4 standards, designed for ice operations and advanced oceanographic studies.
Last summer, China accomplished over forty manned submersible dives in the Arctic.