China has "unprecedented number" of ships in U.S. Arctic waters, DHS says

The United States military said it is taking a "strategic approach" to ramping up its presence in Arctic waters, after a report by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security called China's visibility in that area "unprecedented."

"In 2025, an unprecedented number of Chinese military and research vessels operated in or near U.S. Arctic waters, prompting the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) to respond decisively in defense of American sovereignty," the report said. "This proactive stance reflects the Administration's renewed commitment to securing U.S. borders and interests, even in the remote Arctic region. However, China's continued expansion of its icebreaking fleet poses a potential challenge to U.S. maritime sovereignty if future Chinese operations fall outside legal parameters."

This year, th