As China strengthens its maritime expansion, some of the Chinese fishing boats identified by an American research institute as possibly harboring "maritime militias" are also active in the East China Sea, navigating the waters around the Senkaku Islands in Okinawa Prefecture. NHK's analysis revealed that I was doing it.
We do not know if there were actually "maritime militia" on board the Chinese fishing boats, but the Japan Coast Guard is also aware of the fishing boats' movements and is closely monitoring their activities.
Since the Japanese government nationalized the Senkaku Islands on September 11, 10 years ago, Chinese government vessels have repeatedly intruded into territorial waters and approached Japanese fishing vessels in the surrounding waters.
Under these circumstances, the American think tank CSIS (Center for Strategic and International Studies) is paying attention to large Chinese fishing boats manned by military-trained personnel called "maritime militias."
In addition to normal fishing activities, these fishing boats are said to be in charge of demonstration activities, reconnaissance and surveillance, etc.
In the South China Sea, in March last year, more than 200 Chinese fishing boats continued to anchor in the exclusive economic zone of the Philippines, which is in conflict with China over territorial rights. It was showing the view that is on board.
At this time, a spokesperson for the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs asserted the legitimacy, saying, ``The work of Chinese fishing boats is legal. It's malicious," he protested.
This time, based on information released by China, CSIS has identified 122 fishing boats that may be operating in the South China Sea and may have maritime militias on board. The analysis was based on the data of the AIS = automatic ship identification system.
As a result, it was found that more than 10 of these vessels were active in the East China Sea within 200 km from the Senkaku Islands in the last year.
Some of the vessels were also confirmed to have navigated the territorial waters of the Senkaku Islands and the contiguous zone.
We do not know whether there were actually "maritime militia" on board Chinese fishing boats, but the Japan Coast Guard is also aware of such movements in the East China Sea and is paying close attention to their activities.
CSIS Senior Research Fellow Gregory Polling analyzes that ``using maritime militias and continuing pressure from peacetime puts a burden on the Japan Coast Guard, which monitors and guards.''
"Marine militia" ostensibly fishery lightly armed and undergo special training
According to the American think tank CSIS = Center for Strategic and International Studies, the "maritime militia" are lightly armed, receive special training, and receive subsidies from the central government for fuel costs and ship repairs. It means that
They are ostensibly engaged in fishing, but they are said to carry out various activities to achieve the political and military objectives of the country.
In a report released in November last year, CSIS identified a total of 122 fishing boats operating in the South China Sea with home ports in Guangdong and Hainan provinces as maritime militia vessels, based on public information from China. , has published a list of those ships.
According to the CSIS analysis, these fishing vessels are engaged in demonstration activities, such as ramming, sabotage, surveillance, and reconnaissance, as well as sailing in large numbers to territorial disputed waters.
According to the Japan Coast Guard and others, the Chinese government has positioned the "militia" as an armed force in laws and other regulations, but has not shown an official view on the "maritime militia."
China uses 'maritime militia' in South China Sea
The United States' CSIS = Center for Strategic and International Studies points out that the movement of Chinese fishing boats has become active in recent years in the South China Sea, where territorial disputes continue.
According to CSIS, since China built artificial islands in 2016 on the Spratly Islands, known in English as the Spratly Islands in the South China Sea, China has stepped up its efforts to gain effective control through peacetime activities, and has actively launched fishing boats for its "maritime militia." I think it is being used effectively.
In May 2016, the commander of the U.S. Navy revealed that when U.S. military vessels were dispatched to areas such as the vicinity of artificial islands being built by China, there were a number of cases in which the vessels were surrounded by ships manned by maritime militias. did.
Recently, in March last year, the Philippine government, which is at odds with China over territorial rights, confirmed that about 220 Chinese fishing boats were anchored in the waters of the South China Sea, which it designates as its own exclusive economic zone. The fishing boat stayed on for about two months.
The Philippine government and the US State Department have shown that these fishing boats are manned by a "maritime militia".
At this time, a spokesperson for China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said, "The work of Chinese fishing boats is legal." And there is malice."
Multiple fishing boats heading from the South China Sea to the East China Sea confirmed
What were the 122 fishing boats that CSIS identified as possibly carrying "maritime militias" doing over the last year?
First, many fishing boats navigate the South China Sea, which China disputes with the Philippines, Vietnam, and others.
However, since the end of July, multiple fishing boats have been confirmed heading from the South China Sea to the East China Sea.
It sailed near the EEZ (Exclusive Economic Zone) claimed by Japan, stopped temporarily, and then returned to the direction of the South China Sea.
Furthermore, a closer look confirmed that at least one ship was navigating in the territorial waters and contiguous waters of the Senkaku Islands.
(*The track is indicated by a red dot on the map.)
This ship moves from the southwest to the northeast, passing through the territorial waters of the Senkaku Islands and the contiguous zone.
She then sailed again near the Senkaku Islands, this time from the northeast to the southwest, before returning to the South China Sea.
More than 10 of these vessels have been identified over the past year, and CSIS senior researcher Pauling points out that many of the vessels departed from Sanya on Hainan Island and are believed to be more trained fishing vessels. .
US expert: China's goal is effective control of the Senkaku Islands and South China Sea
Gregory Polling, a senior researcher at the American think tank CSIS = Center for Strategic and International Studies, said that the fishing boats identified in the East China Sea this time were sailing for some kind of movement or participated in joint exercises with the military and other maritime militias. It is necessary to further analyze the activities and intentions after pointing out that there is a possibility that they may have been doing so.
According to Pauling, Senior Research Fellow, "The Chinese side is putting pressure on the Japan Coast Guard, which is monitoring and vigilant, by making use of the maritime militia and continuing to apply pressure during peacetime."
“China’s goal is to gain effective control over the Senkaku Islands and the entire South China Sea. We must think about how Japan should respond to the slow but steady strengthening of its control."
Aki Mohri, an assistant professor at the University of Tsukuba who studies China's maritime policy, said, "The tension over the Senkaku Islands is part of a larger confrontation between China and the United States, which have increased their national power and are competing for supremacy. China. It is necessary for Japan to have a calm and broad perspective to deal with the challenges of the 2010-2011 World War II in the face of the challenges of the 2010-2011 World War II. It is all about using diplomacy to win over the international community, while quietly pushing back against China, as China is doing now."