China’s Coast Guard claimed it entered waters of the Arctic Ocean for the first time as part of a joint patrol with Russia – in the latest sign of enhanced coordination between the two in a region where Beijing has long wished to expand its footprint.

China said its Coast Guard vessels entered the Arctic Ocean for the first time, patroling the waters jointly with Russian ships on a mission that underscored the growing cooperation between Beijing and Moscow in the region.

A fleet of Chinese Coast Guard vessels made a historic entry into the Arctic Ocean recently in joint patrols with the Russian Coast Guard. The significant operation marked the first time that Chinese Coast Guard ships have ventured into Arctic waters, China Coast Guard said on Wednesday.