The Pentagon has acknowledged that five Chinese Naval ships are sailing in the Bering Sea off of Alaska at the same time President Barack Obama is visiting the state, according to Reuters reports:

Two U.S. defense officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the United States had identified a Chinese amphibious ship, a replenishment vessel and three surface combatant ships.

None of the ships had been seen acting in an unprofessional or unlawful manner, the officials said, adding that the United States had become aware of their presence in recent days.

The Associated Press reports that the ships had been participating with Russia in naval exercises. Additionally, in 2013, the Arctic Council added China as a Permanent Observer.

On Thursday, China is holding a huge military parade in Tiananmen Square, the site of a student led protest in 1989. This military parade along with the Chinese Navy’s movement into the Bering Sea demonstrates China’s commitment to growing its military might. From the Reuters article:

Dean Cheng, a China expert at the Heritage Foundation think-tank in Washington, D.C., said the presence of the ships in the Bering Sea was designed to send a message to Washington about China’s growing military might.

“It is living up to what the Chinese have been saying, ‘We are now a blue water navy. We will operate in the far seas and we are a global presence’,” Cheng said.

So, while Obama is in Alaska to hang out with Bear Grylls and jawbone about climate change, the Chinese Peoples Liberation Army Navy is participating in naval exercises with Russia and showing off its Blue Water Navy.

I feel safer knowing that Bear Grylls is teaching Obama survival skills while he is being pinged by the Chinese Navy. Don’t you? I feel safer knowing that our military is being drawn down while the Chinese build their military up. Don’t you feel safer?