China likely to step up coastguard port calls as part of South China Sea soft power play, analysts say

Chinese vessel’s arrival in the Philippines opens way for new kind of diplomacy in disputed waters but it is also seen as reminder of less friendly persuasion

Beijing military commentator sees visits as opportunities to improve communication and narrow scope for confrontation

Reading Time:3 minutes

Chinese coastguard vessel 5204 arrives in Manila for a “friendly visit” and sceptical welcome from some in the Philippines. Photo: Xinhua

Published: 12:30pm, 19 Jan 2020Updated: 3:22pm, 17 Feb 2020

Beijing is likely to send more coastguard vessels on port calls to try to take the rough edges off the service’s image as part of a militia fleet used to press territorial claims in the South China Sea, analysts said.

That assessment came after vessel 5204 paid the coastguard’s first “friendly visit” to the Philippines on Monday, in a move designed to strengthen its humanitarian credentials.

The 5204 put in at Manila South Harbour carrying aid packages for the thousands who were displaced by or have fled the Taal volcano in Batangas province. That erupted on Sunday, sending lava and ash hundreds of metres into the air and prompting the evacuation of an area within a 14km (nine-mile) radius of the site.

Beijing and Manila also exchanged views on maritime law enforcement and other common concerns at a meeting that began on Tuesday and ended on Thursday.

A Chinese coastguard vessel makes a port call to Manila. Photo: AFP

Collin Koh, a research fellow from the S Rajaratnam School of International Studies at Singapore’s Nanyang Technological University, said the visit helped to soften the Chinese coastguard’s image, which was shaped by the perception that it was a coercive force.

Select Voice

Choose your listening speed

Get through articles 2x faster

1.25x

250 WPM

Slow

Average

Fast

00:0000:00

1.25x