Canadian Navy Monitors Chinese Research Vessel in Arctic, Says Foreign Actors ‘Collecting Intelligence’

A Canadian warship was deployed to the Bering Strait in July to keep an eye on a Chinese polar research vessel as it navigated the passage between Russia and Alaska, underscoring Beijing’s growing interest in the region. The HMCS Regina shadowed the Chinese Research Vessel Xue Long 2 sometime between July 7 when it left its home port of Esquimalt, B.C., and July 25 when it returned. Although the federal government did not publicize this part of HMCS Regina’s trip to the Arctic Ocean, a National Defence spokesperson confirmed the encounter in an email to The Epoch Times Aug. 1.  National Defence media relations officer Andrée-Anne Poulin also confirmed a Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) naval task group was in the area....