Chinese coastguard ships ‘deliberately visible in South China Sea to assert sovereignty’
- Vessels have voluntarily broadcast signals from three shoals also claimed by China’s neighbours, Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative shows
- Its report says China ‘clearly wants regional counterparts to know its ships are present’ in what could be ‘blueprint for extending Chinese control’
A report released by the Washington-based Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative said it had identified 14 Chinese coastguard vessels broadcasting automatic identification system (AIS) signals while patrolling the Luconia Shoals, Second Thomas Shoal and the Scarborough Shoal over the past year.
Commercial vessels over 300 tonnes are required to broadcast AIS signals for collision avoidance, while military and law enforcement vessels have discretion about when and where to do so, the think tank said, adding that many Chinese coastguard vessels patrolling in other parts of the South China Sea broadcast the signals only when entering and leaving port.
But the vessels patrolling the three shoals appeared to have made efforts to be seen. One at Luconia had broadcast AIS signals on 258 of the past 365 days, one at Second Thomas had done so for 215 days, and one at Scarborough for 162 days.
“There don’t appear to be any other contested areas where CCG [China Coast Guard] presence is so persistent, and where China clearly wants regional counterparts to know they are present,” the report said.
“Beijing has evidently taken a special interest in Luconia, Second Thomas and Scarborough shoals. It seems to be wagering that if it can maintain a semi-permanent CCG presence for long enough, regional states will eventually accede to its de facto control of those areas.