China’s ‘bullying’ coastguard involved in most South China Sea clashes: research

Two thirds of 45 clashes in disputed waterway since 2010 involve mainland’s coastguard, says survey by Washington’s Centre for Strategic and International Studies think tank

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A Chinese coastguard ship (right) uses a water cannon on a Vietnamese ship in the disputed waters in the South China Sea on May 2, 2014. Photo: AFP

Published: 11:59am, 7 Sep 2016Updated: 11:30pm, 7 Sep 2016

Increasingly assertive action by China’s coastguard ships in the South China Sea risks destabilising the region, according to the authors of new research tracking maritime law enforcement incidents across the vital trade route.

While the risks of full-blown naval conflict dominates strategic fears over the disputed waterway, the danger of incidents involving coastguards should not be underestimated, said Bonnie Glaser, a regional security expert at Washington’s Centre for Strategic and International Studies think tank.

China’s coastguard boat sprays a water cannon at Filipino fishermen near Scarborough Shoal in the disputed South China Sea on September 23, 2015. Photo AP

CSIS researchers have detailed some 45 clashes and stand-offs in the South China Sea since 2010 in a survey due to be published on its ChinaPower website

While the research includes clashes between a variety of regional states and types of vessels, the actions of China’s coastguard dominates the picture.

China’s coastguard has been involved in 30 of the cases logged, two-thirds of the total. Four other incidents involved a Chinese naval vessel operating in a law enforcement capacity.