Last month, the United States coastguard “detected and responded to” the Chinese research vessel Xue Long 2 around 290 nautical miles north of Utqiagvik, Alaska. The US said the vessel was sailing within its “extended continental shelf” and implied the Chinese operation was engaged in “malign state activity”.
This reveals troubling inconsistencies in the US’ approach towards international maritime law, raising serious doubts about Washington’s commitment to the rules-based international order it…
