China and Russia are conducting joint military activitiesat and near U.S. owned Aleutian islands and the Bering straits according to new reports. In July of 2024, multiple Chinese military warships were spotted off the coast of Alaskaover the weekend, the US Coast Guard announced. In a statement released on , the US Coast Guard said that it detected three vessels approximately 124 miles (200km) north of the Amchitka Pass in the Aleutian Islands, as well as another vessel approximately 84 miles (135km) north of the Amukta Pass, a strait between the Bering Sea and the north Pacific Ocean. All four Chinese vessels were “transiting in international waters but still inside the US exclusive economic zone, which extends 200 nautical miles from the US shoreline”, according to the US Coast Guard. Last August, the US sent out four navy warships in addition to a reconnaissance airplane after multiple Chinese and Russian military vessels carried out a joint naval patrol near Alaska. When approached by the US Coast Guard, the Chinese navy justified its presence as “freedom of navigation operations.” According to the Coast Guard, the Chinese ships followed international norms, but US forces responded with “presence met with presence,” ensuring that American interests in Alaskan waters remained protected.
China has the largest number of ships of any Navy int he world. Over the past 15 years, it has built 131 ships that are capable of operating in far waters, while 144 are designed for near-water operations.
The Aleutian Islands are part of the U.S. state of Alaska, so they are part of U.S. vital interests
Meanwhile, the threats to the Alaskan Arctic, northwest of the continental United States, have intensified. Indeed, the most recent annual threat assessment report published by the Office of the U.S. Director of National Intelligence (DNI) briefly mentions Alaska in the context of emerging threats.
Russia has also intensified its own unilateral bomber flights near Alaska and Canada to levels unseen in recent years., Russian military flights in the Arctic triggered NORAD fighter patrols over the region, with US F-16s now stationed in Greenland as a deterrent.
As Arctic ice melts, the world’s trade routes are transforming. The Northern Sea Route (NSR) has emerged as a game-changer, drastically cutting travel time between Asia and Europe. Russia is positioning this new path as a direct competitor to the traditional Suez Canal, offering a faster, more efficient alternative for global commerce. But this shift goes beyond trade—it’s a strategic power play. The Arctic also has oil and minerals. According to the US Geological Survey, with 13% of the world’s undiscovered oil and 30% of its untapped natural gas, the region is poised to become a hotspot for resource extraction, further intensifying the geopolitical stakes.
Jeffrey Newman is a whistleblower lawyer representing doctors, nurses and therapists who have become whistleblowers reporting Medicare and Medicaid fraud in False Claims Act (Qui Tam) cases. He also represents whistleblowers in tariff fraud cases and military contract fraud cases. also a frequent writer on issues relating to events affecting the world economy. Jeff can be reached at Jeff@JeffNewmanLaw.com or at 617-823-3217
