U.S. Senators Propose Arctic Spy Ship Ban Amid Rising Chinese, Russian Activity Near Alaska

Two U.S. senators introduced bipartisan legislation on Monday aimed at barring Chinese and Russian government-linked vessels from conducting research operations in U.S. Arctic waters, reflecting growing concern in Washington that scientific missions are increasingly being used to support intelligence gathering and strategic competition in the High North.

The Arctic Security and Diplomacy Act, introduced by Republican Senator Mike Lee and Democratic Senator Jeanne Shaheen, would prohibit vessels from adversarial nations from conducting research in the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and on the U.S. continental shelf.

“The United States must not tolerate China’s increasing incursions into U.S. waters under the guise