Tag Archives: china coast guard

Research: China’s Maritime Gray Zone

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Rand has an interesting 157-page report, Understanding and Countering China’s Maritime Gray Zone Operations, currently available online for your reading pleasure.

From the report:

China’s gray zone operations involve layering different forces, including the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN), China Coast Guard (CCG), and People’s Armed Forces Maritime Militia (PAFMM), to overwhelm opponents and make U.S. or allied responses difficult. China also adopts approaches like gradual escalation to slowly advance its interests and avoid triggering a strong response.

China employs various tactics to achieve its goals in the gray zone, including violating territorial airspace and EEZs, harassment, illegal fishing, and ramming. The PAFMM is a crucial tool in China’s gray zone arsenal. These militia vessels are civilian-looking but can be used for military purposes. Their ambiguity makes it difficult for other countries to respond forcefully. The CCG is another essential tool, with a growing fleet of heavily armed and capable ships. CCG assets can be used to intimidate rivals and enforce China’s territorial claims without resorting to military force. The PLAN is less frequently involved in gray zone operations but serves as a backup if the situation escalates.

Download here.

PI to start receiving first of 10 new patrol boats, wants to go bigger

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44m opvThe Japan Marine United Corporation is currently building a class of 10 new 44m (144-foot) offshore patrol vessels for the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), paid for in part by Japanese grants. These ships, nice slow patrol boats dubbed “Multi-Role Response Vessels” with long enough legs to keep a presence in the disputed South China Sea, are just what the PI needs. And of course, since a lot of the money comes from Japan, the program allows the Philippines to act as an increased buffer by proxy with China.

Japan_Coast_Guar_MRRV

The first of these will arrive in the Philippines in September and the type is already in use with the Japanese Coast Guard.

Further, the PCG is looking at two follow-on 92m (302-foot) vessels and hire another 900 coasties.

This, coupled with the fact that the flagships of the Philippine Navy are a pair of retired 378-foot Hamiliton class USCG Cutters, could lead one to wonder just who is the bigger sea service in the Philippines in the next few years.

But of course, that is all part of the chess game with China, as they are ordering huge “Coast Guard” ships themselves pushing 15,000-tons, or the size of a WWII heavy cruiser.

chinese coast guard ship
From Foxtrot Alpha

Reports state that these ships will be able to hit 25 knots and will be outfitted with 76mm naval cannons, two secondary gun turrets, two anti-aircraft CIWS mounts as well as being able to carry at least a pair of large Z-8 multi-role helicopters. These helicopters, somewhat akin to a CH-53 Stallion, could move a lot of personnel and material very quickly without a port available.

In addition, Japan is building at least two more 9,000-ton (the size of an Aegis destroyer) Shikishima Class coast guard cutters for their own racing stripe service. So we are in effect looking at a Coast Guard race in the Far East.