Chinese Fishing Vessels Form Unusual Flotillas in East China Sea

Kaohsiung, Taiwan: On Christmas Eve last year, satellite and ship transponder data uncovered a peculiar sight in the East China Sea. Thousands of Chinese fishing boats were spotted maintaining positions in straight, tight formations for extended periods. Similar occurrences took place two weeks later.

Experts from a geospatial analysis firm pinpointed two significant formations composed of about 1,400 and 2,000 fishing vessels. This situation forced cargo ships to reroute or navigate carefully through the mass of stationary boats that had paused their usual fishing activities. Analysts suspect this movement of Chinese fishing vessels may be a “gray zone” tactic.

Holmes Liao, a defense analyst and senior advisor at the Taiwan Space Administration, suggested that U.S. defense experts have proposed the Navy should recognize China’s maritime militia as a legitimate navy.

“Taiwan might need to embrace that awareness,” Liao remarked. “If these fishing vessels are indeed operating under direct military command, it could change how we view their civilian status under armed conflict laws, potentially impacting claims of civilian immunity.”

Liao further emphasized that Taiwan should think about using surveillance drones and conducting air patrols over these maritime forces to boost their deterrence. “Historically, Taiwan has been somewhat hesitant in addressing Chinese assertiveness,” he noted. “While they may look like fishing boats, they are typically under the orders of the People’s Liberation Army and function as part of the maritime militia.”

The U.S. Department of Defense has frequently categorized the People’s Armed Maritime Militia (PAFMM) as a “state-organized, trained, and equipped” entity that supports China’s navy and coast guard actively.

Reports indicate that swarms of Chinese fishing vessels have been documented operating near disputed areas in the South China Sea, often for extended periods. However, the recent incidents suggest the fishing militia has significantly expanded in size.

Fishing boats are cheap and abundant, creating a legally gray area that complicates navigation, clutters radar systems, and increases risks for commercial shipping. The civilian status of these boats conveniently allows the Chinese government to portray any incidents as unapproved activities or accidents.

The U.S. has regularly pointed to the need for freedom of navigation as a reason for its military operations in the Indo-Pacific, underlining that this region holds about 60% of the global GDP. The Taiwan area is already perceived as a “higher risk environment” by marine insurers and shipping firms, meaning that even temporary formations of vessels can impact shipping decisions and have broader economic repercussions.

Security analyst Sasha Chhabra warned that China risks significant challenges if it sends civilian fishing boats into active conflicts. “U.S. Navy groups could easily navigate through these formations, and large merchant ships carrying essential imports to Taiwan could overpower most fishing vessels in a collision,” he said.

Chhabra also referenced that the Chinese government has previously utilized civilian fishermen as “live bait” in conflicts. In 1973, they drew the South Vietnamese Navy into a confrontation while seizing control of the Paracel Islands, but he believes such tactics would not yield the same results against the U.S. Navy today.

For Taiwan, the concern might not be a singular high-stake incident but rather a gradual accumulation of pressure. Encounters between Taiwanese patrol boats and Chinese fishing vessels frequently take place around remote islands and in segments of the Taiwan Strait, often with vessels working in coordinated formations to swarm or trail Taiwanese ships. These maritime militias could serve as tools to deter global shipping from engaging with Taiwan.

Taiwan’s major ports are crucial for the country’s energy and industrial sectors. For instance, Kaohsiung port handles significant amounts of LNG imports and petrochemical shipments. Even minor disruptions or instability in surrounding waters could have a ripple effect on supply chains, driving up costs across the global economy.

Jason Wang, the CEO of ingeniSPACE, the company that identified the fishing fleet using satellite technology, indicated that while Taiwan maintains a competitive edge in semiconductors, China is advancing in space capabilities. He argues that data integration and satellite-based ocean monitoring are now essential. “Information can act as a deterrent without provocation. It serves as a force multiplier for precise military spending,” he stated. “Taiwan, like other nations in the first island chain, needs to prepare for a different kind of warfare.”

Wang and other analysts pointed out that countries like Japan and South Korea have been rapidly developing private satellite networks over the past decade to enhance surveillance capabilities and better distinguish between overt military actions and gray-zone tactics.

They conclude that sea control now relies not only on warships but can also be significantly impacted by seemingly harmless vessels.