China Deploys Fishing Vessels in East China Sea Amid Taiwan Tensions Thousand of Chinese fishing vessels have conducted coordinated maneuvers near Taiwan and Japanese islands over the past four months, according to recent reports. These movements, described as a surprise escalation, have raised concerns about their potential role in China’s military planning for a potential invasion of Taiwan. Experts suggest that fishing boats are often part of China’s maritime militia, a semi-official group that operates under the country’s naval forces and is believed to play a key role in supporting large-scale operations. The maneuvers, which involved synchronized movements of vessels in international waters, were observed off the coast of Taiwan and near Japanese islands. Analysts note that such coordinated actions by fishing fleets could serve dual purposes—both as a demonstration of military capability and as a means of gathering intelligence or testing logistical readiness. The use of fishing vessels in this context is not new, but the scale and frequency of recent activities have drawn heightened attention. A photograph from the U.S. Navy shows a Chinese trawler attempting to intercept the towed array of the U.S. surveillance ship USNS Impeccable, highlighting the strategic value of these vessels in maritime operations. While fishing boats are primarily used for commercial purposes, their ability to operate in contested waters and their potential for rapid deployment have made them a critical asset in China’s broader maritime strategy. The timing of these maneuvers coincides with escalating tensions between China and Taiwan, with Beijing maintaining its stance on the island’s status as part of its territory.#china #india_today #east_china_sea #taiwan #usns_impeccable
They are not fishing: Thousands of Chinese boats form unusual patterns near Taiwan -what it could mean Thousands of Chinese fishing vessels have been observed forming precise geometric patterns in the East China Sea, raising concerns among maritime experts about potential strategic or military activities. An analysis by AFP, combining satellite imagery, ship-tracking data, and interviews with experts, suggests the formations may indicate preparations for crisis scenarios involving Taiwan or Japan. The unusual gatherings, detected between December and early January 2025, involved large numbers of boats maintaining coordinated positions for extended periods despite harsh weather conditions. The first major incident occurred on December 25, when approximately 2,000 vessels assembled into two inverted L-shaped formations about 300 kilometers northeast of Taiwan. These formations, identified through Automatic Identification System (AIS) signals and satellite monitoring, persisted for nearly 30 hours. Jason Wang, a maritime data analyst, noted that such precise, large-scale arrangements are rare in normal fishing operations. The boats were positioned as close as 500 meters apart, forming lines stretching over 400 kilometers before dispersing abruptly. Similar patterns were observed in early January, with around 1,000 vessels forming a large, uneven rectangle spanning 400 kilometers. Many of these boats had also participated in the earlier December formation. A third incident in late January saw about 1,200 vessels creating two parallel lines further east, maintaining formation for 30 hours before breaking up. Experts emphasized that the repeated, highly coordinated movements deviate from typical fishing behavior, where vessels usually spread out to maximize catches.#china #east_china_sea #zhejiang_province #maritime_militia #taiwan
Beijing Preparing For Conflict? Thousands Of Boats Mass In East China Sea Thousands of Chinese fishing boats formed large geometric patterns in the East China Sea, according to satellite data and ship-tracking analysis. The vessels, positioned as close as 500 metres to each other, held their formations for about 30 hours before dispersing in near gale-force winds. Experts believe the coordinated movements signal Beijing’s potential preparations for a regional crisis or conflict. Jason Wang, chief operating officer of ingeniSPACE, noted the unusual nature of the event. Monitoring ship-tracking data on Christmas Day, he observed roughly 2,000 fishing boats arranged in two parallel inverted Ls, each spanning 400 kilometres. The vessels maintained their positions despite harsh weather conditions, a pattern rarely seen in natural fishing activities. “Something didn’t look right to me because in nature very rarely do you see straight lines,” Wang said. Maritime and military experts described the scale of the operation as unprecedented. The formations, detected around 300 kilometres northeast of Taiwan, involved thousands of boats, far exceeding typical gatherings. Similar incidents were recorded in early January, with around 1,000 vessels clustered in an uneven rectangle for over a day. Hundreds of these boats were also present during the December 25 event. Experts suggest the massing of boats was not for fishing purposes. Gregory Poling of the Center for Strategic and International Studies called the December 25 event “a demonstration with a military lens,” highlighting the ability to coordinate large numbers of vessels. Jennifer Parker, a former Australian naval officer, emphasized the unusual proximity of the boats, stating, “They’re definitely not fishing.#beijing #east_china_sea #ingenspace #center_for_strategic_and_international_studies #unseenlabs
