Why U.S. Navy will lose against China's Militia and Navy ?
China's armed fishing militia—officially called the People's Armed Forces Maritime Militia (PAFMM) by the U.S. Department of Defense—plays an instrumental role in Beijing's strategy to enforce its sovereignty claims in the South China Sea and East China Sea. PAFMM is a government-supported armed fishing force of unknown strength that resides under the direct command and control of the People's Liberation Army (PLA). It has existed for decades and augments Chinese Coast Guard (CCG) and PLA Navy (PLAN) operations in the region. The PAFMM has over 700,000 fishing or Militia boats all over South China Sea. These boats can be armed with torpedo, anti ship missiles and small artillery weapons. Out of the Militia boats 350000 are powered by motorized engines capable of attacking any big size navy vessel. The most dangerous aspect of these fishing vessels is that they can be found in any waters disguised as fishing boats but at moments notice can turn around switch into military navy boat over a second.
It is stated that these boats, described as China’s “third naval force”, are reportedly acting in coordination with the Chinese Naval Forces and the Chinese Coast Guard. While China denies the allegations, some experts insist that these fishing boats are military elements.
“Guerrilla war at sea”
The Philippine army detected 275 ships in the Sandy Cay area near Thitu Island last year. Some experts interpret this approach “as guerrilla war at sea”. China’s ambassador to the Philippines, Zhao Jianhua, however, disagrees and denies the allegations, asserting that the boats are nothing more than fishing boats and that they “do not have any weapons in any form”.
Experts advocate the idea that these “militias” are used to promote strategic objectives such as highlighting regional claims, conducting reconnaissance activities and complicating access to disputed areas. Since many such boats are equipped with satellite navigation, they can track and transfer locations, while collecting intelligence at sea reporting them to various sources.
In fact, according to Erickson and Kennedy, the militia boats have the Chinese BeiDou navigation satellite system with a tablet screen that allows crews to monitor other units, send text messages using Chinese characters. These militias are a well-equipped (trained) fishing boat network organized by China that helps with more intelligence gathering and communications, generating useful information for the navy’s goals.
“Hybrid Civilian Naval Forces”
It is estimated that there are 200,000 fishing boats in China and 14 million people are employed in this sector. However, there are allegedly around 23,000 fishing boats used for the above-mentioned purposes. Maritime militias also provide logistical support to Chinese warships. For instance, the boats are also allegedly used to transfer construction materials to build artificial islands in China’s South China Sea (having carried at least 2.65 million tons since the 1990s).
The real Chinese Navy vessels :
Than there is 1st tier level of actual Chinese people's Liberation Navy which already comprises of 2 state of art Aircraft carriers and scores of latest frigates to destroyers etc.
Getting assistance from 2nd or 3rd tier Militia vessels will be added layer of defence for PAFMM Chinese navy in South China Sea. This is also without using the anti ship df-21 & df-26 ballistic missiles. What happened in Vietnam will repeat the tactic yet this time inside South China Sea waters in favour of Chinese Navy.
Source #1 The Law of Naval Warfare and China's Maritime Militia
Source #2 Hybrid warfare and maritime militia in China https://www.aa.com.tr/en/analysis/analysis-hybrid-warfare-and-maritime-militia-in-china/1897259
Source #3 A Short History of China's Fishing Militia and What It May Tell Us
www.rand.org
China's armed fishing militia—officially called the People's Armed Forces Maritime Militia (PAFMM) by the U.S. Department of Defense—plays an instrumental role in Beijing's strategy to enforce its sovereignty claims in the South China Sea and East China Sea. PAFMM is a government-supported armed fishing force of unknown strength that resides under the direct command and control of the People's Liberation Army (PLA). It has existed for decades and augments Chinese Coast Guard (CCG) and PLA Navy (PLAN) operations in the region. The PAFMM has over 700,000 fishing or Militia boats all over South China Sea. These boats can be armed with torpedo, anti ship missiles and small artillery weapons. Out of the Militia boats 350000 are powered by motorized engines capable of attacking any big size navy vessel. The most dangerous aspect of these fishing vessels is that they can be found in any waters disguised as fishing boats but at moments notice can turn around switch into military navy boat over a second.
It is stated that these boats, described as China’s “third naval force”, are reportedly acting in coordination with the Chinese Naval Forces and the Chinese Coast Guard. While China denies the allegations, some experts insist that these fishing boats are military elements.
“Guerrilla war at sea”
The Philippine army detected 275 ships in the Sandy Cay area near Thitu Island last year. Some experts interpret this approach “as guerrilla war at sea”. China’s ambassador to the Philippines, Zhao Jianhua, however, disagrees and denies the allegations, asserting that the boats are nothing more than fishing boats and that they “do not have any weapons in any form”.
Experts advocate the idea that these “militias” are used to promote strategic objectives such as highlighting regional claims, conducting reconnaissance activities and complicating access to disputed areas. Since many such boats are equipped with satellite navigation, they can track and transfer locations, while collecting intelligence at sea reporting them to various sources.
In fact, according to Erickson and Kennedy, the militia boats have the Chinese BeiDou navigation satellite system with a tablet screen that allows crews to monitor other units, send text messages using Chinese characters. These militias are a well-equipped (trained) fishing boat network organized by China that helps with more intelligence gathering and communications, generating useful information for the navy’s goals.
“Hybrid Civilian Naval Forces”
It is estimated that there are 200,000 fishing boats in China and 14 million people are employed in this sector. However, there are allegedly around 23,000 fishing boats used for the above-mentioned purposes. Maritime militias also provide logistical support to Chinese warships. For instance, the boats are also allegedly used to transfer construction materials to build artificial islands in China’s South China Sea (having carried at least 2.65 million tons since the 1990s).
The real Chinese Navy vessels :
Than there is 1st tier level of actual Chinese people's Liberation Navy which already comprises of 2 state of art Aircraft carriers and scores of latest frigates to destroyers etc.
Getting assistance from 2nd or 3rd tier Militia vessels will be added layer of defence for PAFMM Chinese navy in South China Sea. This is also without using the anti ship df-21 & df-26 ballistic missiles. What happened in Vietnam will repeat the tactic yet this time inside South China Sea waters in favour of Chinese Navy.
Source #1 The Law of Naval Warfare and China's Maritime Militia
Source #2 Hybrid warfare and maritime militia in China https://www.aa.com.tr/en/analysis/analysis-hybrid-warfare-and-maritime-militia-in-china/1897259
Source #3 A Short History of China's Fishing Militia and What It May Tell Us
A Short History of China's Fishing Militia and What It May Tell Us
China's armed fishing militia plays an instrumental role in Beijing's strategy to enforce its sovereignty claims in the South China Sea and East China Sea. Why did Beijing create a maritime militia to begin with and how has it evolved over time? What does this history suggest about its future?
www.rand.org
