5 Chinese Navy Ships Operating Near Alaska Coast

In what appears to be a first, five Chinese naval vessels have been spotted operating in the Bering Sea, off the Alaska Coast, The Wall Street Journal reports.

The group consists of three Chinese combat ships, a replenishment vessel and an amphibious landing ship, officials told the Journal.

"We respect the freedom of all nations to operate military vessels in international waters in accordance with international law," said Pentagon spokesman Cmdr. Bill Urban. "This is the first time we have observed [People's Liberation Army Navy] ships in the Bering Sea."

"Based on [the Pentagon's] analysis they have not detected any sort of threat or threatening activities," White House spokesman Josh Earnest said on Wednesday. "They are monitoring movement of the ships but the intent of this is still unclear."

The move comes as President Barack Obama is traveling in Alaska. China has complained that the United States is meddling in its affairs by flying military jets near the Spratlys island chain in the South China Sea, but it was unclear if the move was intended as a response.

China has said it is expanding its naval operations past its own neighborhood as part of its responsibility as a growing economic force in the world.

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