MANILA, Philippines – Despite strong protest from the Philippines and the international community, China has continued to assert its claims in the South China Sea, edging out other claimants through often aggressive behavior.
China has mostly done this through its maritime militia – ships that ostensibly appear to be engaged in fishing activity but in fact operate to advance the country’s claims in other countries’ exclusive economic zones, including the West Philippine Sea.
Up until recently, little has been known about China’s maritime militia. But a recent report from the Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative of the Centers for Strategic and International Studies in Washington DC uncovers key details on these vessels’ ownership, nature, and support structure.
Rappler reporter Sofia Tomacruz sits down with Greg Poling – senior fellow at CSIS and director of the AMTI, who co-authored the report “Pulling Back the Curtain on China’s Maritime Militia” – to discuss the maritime militia’s impact on the South China Sea dispute and how countries can address their activities going forward.
Watch the interview on Rappler on Tuesday, November 30, at 9 pm. – Rappler.com
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