China’s Maritime Militia: A Shadowy Force in International Waters
They appear to be a simple fishing fleet, navigating international waters under the guise of commercial activity. But beneath this facade lies a far more sinister operation. This is China’s maritime militia, a shadowy armada that operates alongside the country’s military to advance Beijing’s political objectives—all while China denies its existence.
“China employs its maritime militia as a paramilitary force,” Raymond Powell, director of SeaLight, a maritime transparency project at Stanford University, told Diálogo. “Although they pose as fishing vessels, they usually do not fish but engage in aggressive maneuvers against vessels from other countries, with group attacks, blockades, and ramming, in close coordination with the Chinese Coast Guard.”
Known officially as the People’s Armed Forces Maritime Militia (PAFMM), this force is primarily active in the South China Sea, where it plays a central role in asserting Beijing’s territorial claims.However, experts are increasingly concerned about its potential presence in Latin America, given the brazen and illegal activities of China’s large-scale fishing fleet in the region.
“Several international reports […] have repeatedly denounced how Chinese vessels involved in illegal fishing not only fish, but represent an opaque naval force used directly by the Beijing government,” Argentine news site Infobae reported.
One alarming incident occurred in August 2022, when the U.S.Coast Guard Cutter James, conducting joint patrols with the Ecuadorian Navy off the galapagos Islands, had to take evasive action to avoid being rammed by a Chinese vessel. two other Chinese boats sped away to escape, as reported by AP. “The high-seas confrontation represents a potentially perilous breach of international maritime protocol,” the outlet noted.
The Gray Zone of Maritime Conflict
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The use of fishing militias in the South China Sea dates back to the 1970s, according to a report by the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS). Today, experts estimate that the PAFMM could have access to hundreds of thousands of fishing vessels, some of which are outfitted with fixed armament.
“The militia’s objective is to win without fighting by overwhelming the adversary with swarms of fishing vessels,” said Derek Grossman, a senior defense analyst at RAND. Tactics include surveillance, harassment, ramming, and the use of high-pressure water hoses against foreign vessels, all aimed at escalating tensions.
One of the militia’s greatest strengths is its deniability. Researchers Shuxian Luo of Johns Hopkins University and Jonathan Panter of Columbia university noted that this allows China to harass and intimidate foreign ships while maintaining plausible deniability. It also enables Beijing to exert pressure on nations that fear provoking the People’s Republic of China (PRC).
Funding and Tactics
The maritime militia’s operations are shrouded in secrecy,with no precise details on the size or composition of its fleet. “Some of these vessels are funded directly by the Chinese government,” Powell explained. “Others belong to private companies that receive government subsidies, to help bolster China’s presence in distant waters.”
One particularly effective tactic is known as “rafting,” where several vessels are tied together by anchor to create semi-permanent floating outposts. These formations are difficult to disperse due to their collective bulk, allowing China to establish control over specific zones without overt militarization. Their legal ambiguity complicates diplomatic responses, as highlighted by sealight.
A Threat to Global Security
China’s use of its maritime militia has raised alarms worldwide. “China has geopolitical aspirations that contradict legal frameworks. They don’t seem to care much,” said maría Isabel Puerta, adjunct professor of Political Sciences at Valencia College. “It’s a way of masking the pressure exerted by China. It has to do with the recognition that ther is a legal order that they intend to bypass. So, they use these vessels as a bulkhead, because it’s clear they are working in coordination.”
Haroro Ingram, country director for the Philippines at the United States Institute of Peace, echoed these concerns in a December 11 opinion piece for war on the rocks. “Its aggressive expansionism, its intimidation campaigns, and its occupation of resource-rich waters threaten not only the security of the Indo-Pacific area, but global security.”
Key Facts About China’s Maritime Militia
| Aspect | Details |
|————————–|—————————————————————————–|
| Primary Role | Paramilitary force operating alongside China’s military and coast guard. |
| Tactics | Surveillance, harassment, ramming, and rafting. |
| Funding | Direct government funding and subsidies to private companies. |
| Key Regions | South China Sea, with potential expansion to Latin America. |
| Global Concerns | Violations of international law and threats to global security. |
China’s maritime militia represents a growing challenge to international maritime norms. Its covert operations, aggressive tactics, and legal ambiguity make it a formidable tool in beijing’s quest for geopolitical dominance. As tensions rise,the world must grapple with the implications of this shadowy force operating in the gray zones of international waters.
Interview: Understanding China’s Shadowy Maritime militia
Editor: What is the primary role of China’s maritime militia, and how does it operate alongside the country’s military?
Raymond Powell: China’s maritime militia, officially known as the People’s Armed Forces Maritime Militia (PAFMM), operates as a paramilitary force.While they masquerade as fishing vessels, their primary mission is to support China’s military and coast guard in advancing Beijing’s political objectives. They engage in aggressive maneuvers such as surveillance, harassment, ramming, and even group attacks against foreign vessels, frequently enough in close coordination with the Chinese Coast Guard.
Editor: Can you elaborate on the tactics employed by the maritime militia?
Derek Grossman: The militia’s tactics are designed to overwhelm adversaries without direct confrontation. They use swarms of fishing vessels to create a sense of intimidation. Specific tactics include surveillance,ramming,and the use of high-pressure water hoses against foreign ships. One notably effective method is “rafting,” where multiple vessels are tied together to form semi-permanent floating outposts, making them tough to disperse and allowing China to establish control over contested areas.
Editor: How is the maritime militia funded, and what is the composition of its fleet?
Raymond Powell: The funding for the maritime militia is shrouded in secrecy. Some vessels are directly funded by the Chinese government, while others belong to private companies that receive government subsidies.This dual funding mechanism helps China bolster its presence in distant waters without overtly militarizing its operations. The exact size and composition of the fleet remain unclear, but it is estimated to include hundreds of thousands of fishing vessels, some of which are outfitted with fixed armament.
editor: What regions are most affected by the operations of China’s maritime militia?
Derek grossman: The maritime militia is primarily active in the South China Sea, where it plays a central role in asserting Beijing’s territorial claims. However, there is growing concern about its potential presence in Latin America, particularly given the brazen and illegal activities of China’s large-scale fishing fleet in the region.This expansion poses a meaningful threat to international maritime norms and global security.
Editor: What are the global implications of China’s use of the maritime militia?
María Isabel puerta: China’s use of the maritime militia represents a significant challenge to international law and global security. Their covert operations and legal ambiguity allow Beijing to exert pressure on nations that fear provoking the People’s Republic of China. This strategy not only undermines the legal order but also threatens the security of the Indo-Pacific region and beyond. It is indeed a clear example of China’s aggressive expansionism and its intention to bypass established legal frameworks.
Key Takeaways
- China’s maritime militia operates as a paramilitary force, supporting the country’s military and coast guard in advancing Beijing’s political objectives.
- They employ aggressive tactics such as surveillance, harassment, ramming, and rafting to intimidate foreign vessels and assert territorial claims.
- The militia is funded through a combination of direct government support and subsidies to private companies, though the exact size and composition of the fleet remain unclear.
- While primarily active in the South China Sea, there is growing concern about the militia’s potential presence in Latin America, posing a threat to international maritime norms and global security.
China’s maritime militia represents a growing challenge to international maritime norms, with its covert operations, aggressive tactics, and legal ambiguity making it a formidable tool in Beijing’s quest for geopolitical dominance.
