China is advancing its maritime strategy with the construction of a new coastguard vessel that is not only formidable in size but also equipped with cutting-edge technology, signaling Beijing’s intent to further assert its territorial claims in the disputed South China Sea. This development is likely to escalate tensions in the region, particularly with neighboring countries like the Philippines, who have long contested China’s expansive territorial ambitions.

This month, the South China Morning Post (SCMP) reported that this new vessel, being built at Shanghai’s Jiangnan Shipyard, represents a significant leap in China’s maritime capabilities. Modeled after the sophisticated Type 052D guided-missile destroyer, this coastguard ship is expected to play a pivotal role in China’s ongoing efforts to enforce its territorial claims, particularly in the East and South China Seas. This article delves into the implications of this new development for regional security, the strategic importance of this vessel, and how neighboring countries are likely to respond.

The newly constructed coastguard vessel, reportedly designed based on the Type 052D destroyer, marks a significant upgrade in China’s maritime enforcement capabilities. The vessel’s modifications include the removal of the destroyer’s vertical launch system and the installation of a 76mm main gun, emphasizing its coastguard role while retaining formidable defensive capabilities. The ship’s displacement, ranging between 6,000 to 7,000 tons, makes it comparable to Japan’s larger coastguard vessels, a fact that underscores its potential to dominate maritime operations in the region.

One of the most significant enhancements in this new vessel is its surveillance technology. Equipped with Type 382 air search radars, the ship boasts enhanced air surveillance capabilities, enabling it to monitor a vast area for any potential threats or unauthorized activities. Its operational range of over 6,000 nautical miles means it can conduct extended patrols across the South China Sea without the need for frequent resupply, providing China with a strategic advantage in maintaining a persistent presence in contested waters.

This new vessel is seen as a follow-on design to China’s Zhaotou-class maritime law enforcement (MLE) vessels, which are already among the largest and most capable coastguard ships in the world. These ships, often exceeding 10,000 tons in displacement, have been a testament to China’s shipbuilding prowess and its commitment to maritime law enforcement. The Zhaotou-class vessels, each measuring approximately 165 meters in length, have been designed for maximum endurance, allowing them to operate globally and enforce China’s maritime claims effectively.

Power Shift in South China Sea

The introduction of this new coastguard vessel is likely to shift the balance of power in the South China Sea further in China’s favor. The vessel’s capabilities far exceed those of most regional coastguards, including the Philippines, whose maritime forces are significantly outmatched in terms of both technology and size. China’s ability to deploy such a powerful vessel to the region highlights the growing disparity in maritime law enforcement capabilities between China and other claimants in the South China Sea.

The South China Sea is a strategically vital region, rich in natural resources and a critical maritime route for global trade. Control over this area has long been a contentious issue, with multiple countries, including the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei, and Taiwan, all laying claim to parts of the sea. However, China’s claim, symbolized by its controversial nine-dash line, encompasses almost the entire South China Sea, a claim that has been widely disputed and rejected by an international tribunal in 2016. Despite this, China has continued to assert its claims aggressively, often using its maritime law enforcement agencies to enforce its claims through a strategy known as “gray zone” operations.

Gray zone operations refer to coercive activities that stop short of actual military conflict but are designed to achieve strategic objectives. In the context of the South China Sea, China has used its coastguard and other maritime forces to harass and intimidate other claimants, particularly in areas where it seeks to assert control. The deployment of the new coastguard vessel is likely to enhance China’s ability to conduct these operations, further solidifying its control over disputed areas.

Rise of China’s Maritime Power

China’s maritime expansion is not a new phenomenon. Over the past two decades, China has invested heavily in modernizing its naval and coastguard forces, with a particular focus on the South China Sea. The construction of artificial islands and the deployment of advanced military assets to the region have been key components of this strategy. However, the introduction of increasingly sophisticated coastguard vessels, such as the new ship being constructed at Jiangnan Shipyard, represents a significant escalation in China’s efforts to dominate the region.

The Zhaotou-class MLE vessels, introduced in the late 2010s, were among the first signs of China’s shift towards using its coastguard as a tool of maritime power projection. These vessels, with their massive size and advanced capabilities, have been deployed in key areas of the South China Sea to assert China’s claims. The new vessel, based on the Type 052D destroyer, appears to be an evolution of this strategy, combining the advanced technologies of a modern warship with the enforcement duties of a coastguard vessel.

In a 2019 article for the Naval War College Review, maritime security experts Andrew Erickson and his colleagues noted that the Zhaotou-class vessels represented a new level of capability for maritime law enforcement. These ships were designed to operate globally, with maximum endurance and the ability to conduct a wide range of missions. However, despite their impressive capabilities, the rationale behind their construction has often been questioned, with some experts suggesting that they were built in response to Japan’s deployment of its Shikishima-class cutters.

The Shikishima-class cutters, operated by the Japan Coast Guard, were among the largest and most capable coastguard vessels in the world when they were introduced. Their deployment was seen as a response to the increasing maritime tensions in the East China Sea, where Japan and China have competing territorial claims. China’s decision to build even larger and more capable coastguard vessels, such as the Zhaotou-class, was likely motivated by a desire to match or surpass Japan’s capabilities.

The introduction of China’s new coastguard vessel is likely to further strain the already delicate balance of power in the South China Sea. Southeast Asian countries, particularly the Philippines, have long struggled to keep pace with China’s growing maritime capabilities. The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), in particular, faces significant challenges in maintaining a consistent presence in the region due to its smaller and less capable fleet.

The disparity in capabilities between the PCG and the China Coast Guard (CCG) is stark. While the CCG operates large, heavily armed vessels with advanced surveillance and communication systems, the PCG’s fleet consists primarily of smaller, less capable ships. This limits the PCG’s ability to patrol and enforce its territorial claims in the South China Sea effectively. The introduction of China’s new coastguard vessel will only exacerbate this disparity, making it even more difficult for the Philippines to assert its claims in contested areas like the Second Thomas Shoal.

In recent years, the Philippines has sought to bolster its maritime capabilities through international partnerships and domestic initiatives. The United States, Japan, and other allies have provided the Philippines with training, equipment, and funding to help improve its maritime security. These efforts have led to some improvements, with the PCG doubling its fleet and expanding its personnel in recent years. However, despite these efforts, the PCG remains outmatched by the CCG in terms of both numbers and capabilities.

Philippines’ Assertive Transparency Campaign

In response to China’s aggressive actions in the South China Sea, the Philippines has adopted an “assertive transparency” campaign to bring international attention to China’s behavior. This strategy involves documenting and publicizing incidents of Chinese harassment and interference in the region, using visual evidence and media coverage to galvanize domestic and international support.

The Philippines has deployed PCG and Philippine Navy (PN) vessels with embedded journalists to document these incidents, providing a clear record of China’s actions. This approach has been effective in drawing international attention to the situation, with reports of Chinese aggression often making headlines around the world. The Philippines has also increased its maritime patrols and improved its maritime domain awareness through technological upgrades, allowing it to better monitor and respond to Chinese activities in the region.

International support has been a critical component of the Philippines’ assertive transparency campaign. The United States, Japan, and Australia have all provided significant support to the Philippines, including joint patrols, military aid, and diplomatic backing. This support has been crucial in sustaining the Philippines’ efforts to defend its territorial claims in the South China Sea, despite the overwhelming capabilities of the CCG.

Despite these efforts, the Philippines faces significant challenges in maintaining a consistent presence in the South China Sea. The PCG’s limited resources and capabilities make it difficult to sustain long-term operations in the region, particularly in the face of China’s superior maritime forces. The introduction of China’s new coastguard vessel only adds to these challenges, as it provides China with an even greater ability to enforce its claims and control contested waters.

Moreover, the ambiguity of the United States’ commitment to supporting Philippine territorial claims under the two sides’ mutual defense treaty adds another layer of uncertainty. While the U.S. has expressed support for the Philippines and has conducted joint patrols in the region, there is still a lack of clarity over how far the U.S. is willing to go in defending Philippine interests. This uncertainty complicates the Philippines’ strategic calculations and makes it more challenging to counter China’s actions effectively.

The PCG’s modernization efforts, while significant, may not be enough to close the gap with the CCG. The disparity in maritime force levels remains a major challenge, and there are calls for more significant intervention and investment in indigenous shipbuilding capacities to bolster Southeast Asian nations’ maritime presence. Without these improvements, the Philippines and other regional players may continue to struggle in the face of China’s growing maritime dominance.

South China Sea

The construction of China’s new coastguard vessel is a clear indication of Beijing’s intent to further assert its territorial claims in the South China Sea. This development highlights the growing disparity in maritime capabilities between China and other regional players, particularly the Philippines, and underscores the challenges faced by Southeast Asian countries in countering China’s aggressive actions.

As China continues to build and deploy more advanced maritime assets, the balance of power in the South China Sea is likely to shift further in its favor. This will have significant implications for regional security and could lead to increased tensions and conflicts in the future. The international community, particularly the United States and other major powers, will need to carefully consider their response to China’s actions and work to support the efforts of Southeast Asian countries to defend their territorial claims.

In the coming years, the South China Sea will likely remain a flashpoint for geopolitical tensions, with China’s maritime expansion playing a central role in shaping the region’s future. The introduction of China’s new coastguard vessel is just the latest development in this ongoing struggle for control, and it will undoubtedly have far-reaching consequences for the balance of power in one of the world’s most contested and strategically vital regions.