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China’s coastguard

China’s coastguard
Latest news and updates on China’s coastguard. The paramilitary force, which is used mainly for search and rescue and other maritime policing functions, has been on the front line of tensions in the East and South China seas.
Chinese coast guards use a water cannon against a Philippine vessel in the South China Sea on October 12, 2025. Photo: China Coast Guard/Xinhua
The Philippines

Philippine navy ‘up to the challenge’ of defending territory in South China Sea

Manila is banking on modern ships and global alliances to challenge China’s increasing presence in the contentious waters.

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South China Sea

China accuses Philippines of ‘premeditated’ provocations near Sabina Shoal

China-South Korea relations

China, South Korean ships in 15-hour Yellow Sea stand-off last month: report

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South China Sea

Chinese coastguard patrols reefs controlled by Vietnam in South China Sea

Three ships circled land features, including some where Vietnam has built facilities, last week, according to maritime tracking data.

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The coastguard vessels left a Chinese base on Mischief Reef in the Spratly Islands on Thursday and returned on Saturday. Photo: Getty Images
The Philippines

Doubts greet Philippines-China coastguard deal to calm disputed waters

Analysts are cautiously optimistic about the proposed pact as past efforts to lower the temperature in the waterway have had limited success.

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The Philippines

Philippines’ new hi-tech frigate aims to boost naval defences, but is it enough?

The BRP Diego Silang guided-missile frigate marks a milestone, but analysts say Manila is still playing catch-up and mostly relies on the US.

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The Philippines

Philippines warns China not to cross ‘red line’ over grounded warship

The Philippine military says it has noted a surge in Chinese maritime activity near BRP Sierra Madre in the disputed Second Thomas Shoal.

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Chinese vessels, some mounted with armaments, are seen close to Philippine warship BRP Sierra Madre in the South China Sea on August 20. Photo: Armed Forces of the Philippines/AP
South China Sea

South China Sea: Beijing asserts ‘control measures’ against Philippine ships

Philippine military says there is an increase in Chinese vessels, including coastguard and militia ships, near shoal.

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South China Sea

Philippines assures China of restraint after ship clashes – will tensions ease?

The recent collision involving two Chinese vessels and other developments have led to a risky situation in the South China Sea, analysts say.

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South China Sea

Beijing slams Philippine ships in first comment on South China Sea collision

Philippine vessels ‘severely jeopardised’ safety of Chinese ship crew after ‘illegally entering’ disputed waters, defence ministry says.

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Screen grab from Philippine coastguard footage appears to show the purported collision between Chinese coastguard and military vessels near the disputed Scarborough Shoal. Photo: Handout
South China Sea

Beijing seeks to deter as it expands presence in waters near Philippines, Taiwan

Chinese coastguard ships were seen ‘meandering’ off Batanes last week in the latest move aimed at deterrence, according to analysts.

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The Philippine Navy said two Chinese coastguard ships were seen in waters off Batanes on August 7. Photo: Philippine Coast Guard
South China Sea

How recent collision may prompt China to rethink how coastguard and navy operate

Incident that badly damaged a coastguard vessel has raised questions about whether the forces need better training on how to work together.

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South China Sea

Collision between Chinese ships expected to escalate tension in South China Sea

Analysts predict China will move to restore its image at sea while ramping up exercises to improve navy-coastguard coordination.

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South China Sea

China’s coastguard tows Philippine ship after tense maritime clash in new video

Beijing uses strongest language yet to describe South China Sea confrontations with Manila in footage aired by CCTV.

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Footage released by CCTV on Friday shows a six-minute confrontation at Second Thomas Shoal, also known as Renai Jiao, in the South China Sea. Photo: Junhao
Japan

Japan flags record 216 days of Chinese ships near disputed islands

The unprecedented streak of Chinese vessel sightings was capped off by four coastguard vessels that were observed on Sunday, Tokyo said.

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A Chinese maritime surveillance vessel and a Japanese ship pass near the Diaoyu Islands in the East China Sea. Photo: Kyodo
China-Japan relations

China-Japan dispute flares up after ‘ultranationalists’ fly plane over Diaoyus

Beijing blames extremist ‘activists’ for an incident over the disputed territory that prompted a flurry of diplomatic protests.

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South China Sea

China coastguard claims ‘sovereign jurisdiction’ of Sandy Cay in South China Sea

State media reports CCG officers ‘exercising maritime control’ on one of the reefs in the Spratly Islands also claimed by Philippines.

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China-Japan relations

China coastguard drives off Japanese fishing boats in escalating island dispute

Tokyo accuses Beijing of stoking tensions after Chinese ships expel four vessels from the vicinity of the Diaoyu Islands.

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The Diaoyus, known in Japan as the Senkakus, comprise five uninhabited islets and three reefs, located 169km east of Taiwan and 409km west of Okinawa. Photo: Kyodo
China-South Korea relations

Yellow Sea stand-off over ‘steel structure’ raises China-South Korean tensions

Last month’s confrontation between coastguards began when Chinese vessels blocked South Korean inspection of an object off Jeju Island, reports say.

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South China Sea

Spotting of China’s new Z-20 helicopter model suggests coming coastguard role

The medium-lift helicopter is seen as China’s answer to America’s Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk.

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Taiwan

Mainland China’s Taiwan military presence

This three-part series looks at how Beijing is using its military and coast guard to put pressure on Taipei.

Mainland China’s Taiwan military presence
Taiwan

Why mainland China’s ‘second navy’ is becoming increasingly active around Taiwan

As well as stepping up patrols, coastguards are training with the navy triggering speculation about their role in any attack on the island.

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Illustration: Brian Wang
Taiwan

US personnel seen training elite Taiwanese coastguard unit: report

Witnesses say the American personnel were aboard three vessels over two days off the southern city of Kaohsiung.

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The Philippines

US pledges millions to Philippine coastguard over ‘shared maritime concerns’

Without naming Beijing, long-time allies discuss ways for ‘two sides to jointly address current challenges’, especially in South China Sea.

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US-China relations

US coastguard eyes China, Russia in making Indo-Pacific a ‘top’ priority

Geostrategic importance and criticality to global trade cited amid ‘active’ cooperation this year between Beijing and Moscow in Arctic Ocean.

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A research ship passes a white rainbow in the ice-strewn East-Siberian Sea off the Arctic Ocean. Photo: Shutterstock
China-Russia relations

Chinese and Russian coastguard chiefs call for more cooperation on ‘far seas’

Talks in Beijing follow joint patrols in Arctic and northern Pacific oceans last month.

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China’s coastguard entered the Arctic Ocean for the first time last month during a joint patrol with Russia. Photo: Weibo/央视军事
China-Japan relations

China says it drove away Japanese fishing boat from waters near Diaoyu Islands

Vessel ‘illegally entered’ the country’s territorial waters and was warned to leave, according to Chinese coastguard.

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China-Russia relations

What does China’s coastguard patrol with Russia reveal about its Arctic aims?

Analysts say mission underscores China’s view that non-Arctic nations ‘have the right to engage in civilian operations’ in the area.

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