JUNEAU, AK – The U.S. Coast Guard is actively monitoring five Chinese research vessels currently operating in the U.S. Arctic, deploying aircraft and surface resources as tensions rise over foreign presence in strategically sensitive northern waters.

On Wednesday, a C-130J Hercules aircraft from Air Station Kodiak was launched to conduct surveillance and query the vessels, which include four China-flagged ships and one Liberia-flagged vessel linked to a Chinese university. The response effort is being coordinated with U.S. Northern Command and Alaskan Command as part of broader homeland defense operations.

The Chinese vessels identified in the Arctic are: Xue Long 2, Shen Hai Yi Hao, Zhong Shan Da Xue Ji Di (Liberia flagged), Ji Di, and Tan Suo San Hao. Officials have not disclosed the e

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