Chinese navy vessels spotted off Alaska

“More broadly, these observers view China’s naval capabilities as a key element of an emerging broader Chinese military challenge to the longstanding status of the United States as the leading military power in the Western Pacific”.

“They already had one of these icebreakers using these that in fact territory, and then they will have not been that will far out of the way a workout, and they have already begun their own return back transportation”, he advised Reuters enduring an audio interview.

China’s Defence Ministry said yesterday that Chinese naval ships were carrying out routine exercises in the Bering Sea.

The ships’ deployment to the Bering Sea took place while President Barack Obama was visiting Alaska on a three-day tour to highlight the issue of climate change. US military officials, however, said the craft were operating legally in global waters, and their activities were “not threatening”. Some argued that the ship’s presence in the region represented a declaration of interest in the resource-rich Arctic region. The operation came as China has been increasingly flexing its military muscle, especially given tensions between Beijing and its neighbours over disputed islands in the East and South China Seas.

According to Chinese press reports, the PLAN sent Type 051C Luzhou-class guided missile destroyer Shenyang (115), Russian-built Sovremennyy-class guided destroyer Taizhou (138), Type 54A Jiangkai II frigates Linyi (547) and Hengyang (568), Type 071 amphibious warship Changbaishan, Type 072A tank landing ship (LST) Yunwushan (997) and Type 903 fleet oiler Taihu to the exercise.

It is the first time Chinese warships have visited the area.

Beijing has increased military spending and is working on an aircraft carrier.

US military ships and aircraft routinely conduct freedom of navigation missions in the South China Sea drawing fighter intercepts and verbal rebukes from the PLA.