Category: South China Sea

🚀 A spokesperson for China’s military stated that the People’s Liberation Army had driven away the American warships—a claim China routinely makes following U.S. freedom of navigation operations (FONOP) in the region.Senior Capt. He Tiecheng, the People’s Liberation Army Southern Theater Command spokesperson, referring to the Chinese name for Scarborough Shoal, said in a statement, “On August 13, the U.S. Navy’s destroyer USS Higgins (DDG-76) entered the territorial waters of China’s Huangyan Dao without authorization from Chinese government. The Chinese PLA Southern Theater Command sent its naval troops to track, monitor, warn, and expel the U.S. Navy vessel in accordance with laws and regulations.”A spokesperson for U.S. 7th Fleet disputed this and stated, “China’s statement about this mission is false. USS Higgins conducted this FONOP in accordance with international law and then continued on to conduct normal operations. The operation reflects our commitment to uphold the freedom of navigation and lawful uses of the sea as a principle. The United States is defending its right to fly, sail and operate wherever international law allows, as USS Higgins did here. Nothing China says otherwise will deter us.”In this video, Defense Updates analyzes why Chinese claim of ousting USS Higgins doesn’t hold water ?#defenseupdates #usshiggins #usvschina Chapters:0:00 TITLE00:11 INTRODUCTION01:37 SPONSORSHIP – NordVPN02:11 BACKGROUND04:11 USS HIGGINS 06:09 ANALYSIS

In March of 2009 the USNS Impeccable was surrounded by a swarm of Chinese vessels as it sailed through the international waters of the South China Sea. Towing a sonar array, the Impeccable conducted surveillance operations on submarines operating in the area. Seventy five miles off the coast of HIGH-nan [Hainan], a Chinese Naval Frigate, a Maritime Fisheries Patrol Vessel, and two fishing trawlers began circling the Impeccable. After the frigate failed to intimidate the U.S. warship, the two fishing trawlers began sailing dangerously close (within 50 feet). Throwing grappling hooks into the water, the fishermen attempted to snag the Impeccable’s towed sonar array. When that failed, they positioned themselves in front of the Impeccable and dumped waste and debris into the Impeccable’s path to force an emergency stop. I guess you could say that their behavior was… less than impeccable.Written by: Chris Cappy and Patrick GriffinVideo editing by: Savvy Studios additional animations by: JoshiThese vessels are part of China’s Maritime Militia, a shadowy umbrella force composed of multiple private fishing companies that take up government contracts to act as modern day “privateers.” Employing private vessels to project power and harass your adversaries was a common practice in 18th century England and France, who both employed hundreds of privateers under legal consent contracts called “letters of marque.” In modern terms, think of it like China’s version of the Wagner Group – but with boats. In 2024 China’s People’s Liberation Army Navy is growing at a breakneck speed. Take a look at this satellite imagery from the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS). These images show rapid development and production in Chinese shipyards. In 2020 China surpassed the United States and became the largest Navy in the world by number of ships. While the U.S. Navy still maintains the lead for the most displaced tonnage, China now produces “more than half” of all new maritime tonnage in the world. So with a fast growing Navy, why would China turn to civilian fishing trawlers to help enforce their control over the South China Sea? And how do these civilian vessels fit into China’s overall naval strategy? Are they Pirates, mercenaries, or something else entirely?