On
Surveillance video
the Coast Guard published online.
It is suspected that the ship is traveling in the exclusive economic zone of the USA for espionage purposes. It is a “sensitive point in time,” said a spokeswoman for the US Department of Defense on Thursday (local time). The boat was in international waters, it said. So far, no dangerous or unprofessional behavior has been observed, the spokeswoman said.
Foreign military ships are allowed to transit the exclusive economic zone in accordance with international norms, the US Coast Guard said. However, foreign military ships are often present and operating in the Pacific region in particular. All ships in the Pacific region are routinely observed, the Coast Guard said.