China's Coast Guard: Organization, Forces, and Yellow Sea Applications

Abstract

This chapter analyzes the leadership, organization, fleet, and emerging trends regarding China’s Maritime Law Enforcement (MLE) forces. Together with the PLA Navy (PLAN) and People’s Armed Forces Maritime Militia (PAFMM), the China Coast Guard (CCG)—the world’s largest by far in number of ships—constitutes China’s “second sea force” and is in charge of “rights protection.” This entails upholding Beijing’s interests in disputed waters and involves bullying foreign ships to leave, as exemplified in the South China Sea. While the nature of contestation in the Yellow Sea is different, as there are no land features disputed between China and Korea there, Sino-Korean fisheries disputes could well prompt the CCG to deploy its assets and exercise coercion. Part of China’s armed forces, the CCG is regulated by the newly promulgated CCG Law, itself at odds with international law through its determination to impose PRC domestic law on international waters. China’s state-run shipbuilding industry juggernaut has enabled significant quantitative and qualitative CCG growth over the past two decades. Improving technological sophistication is the current focus. Paradoxically, the CCG’s apparent “weakness” compared to China’s heavily armed conventional Navy poses significant challenges to the United States and its allies and partners when contemplating or employing force.