Pentagon officials said on September 3, 2015 morning that five PLA Navy ships are currently operating in the Bering Sea, off the coast of Alaska, the first time the U.S. military has seen such activity in the area. The officials said they have been aware in recent days that three Chinese combat ships, a replenishment vessel and an amphibious ship were in the vicinity. They said the Chinese ships were still in the area, but declined to specify when the vessels were first spotted or how far they were from the coast of Alaska. One defense official said “This would be a first in the vicinity of the Aleutian Islands, I don’t think we’d characterize anything they’re doing as threatening.”