China Sends Four Polar Research Vessels Into Arctic as U.S. Scrutiny Grows

China has launched its annual Arctic summer expedition with four major research vessels heading north, expanding a polar presence that has increasingly drawn the attention of U.S. lawmakers and military planners following last year’s unprecedented Chinese operations near Alaska.

The Chinese Ministry of Natural Resources said icebreakers Xue Long (Snow Dragon) and Xue Long 2, together with the new polar research vessel Jidi, departed China on Friday to begin the country’s 16th Arctic scientific expedition, which is expected to continue until October. Deep-sea research ship Tan Suo San Hao is also expected to join the expedition.

The mission will focus on