China's maritime paramilitaries

摘要

The capabilities required for contingencies in China's maritime littoral are neither long-range nor militarily advanced. Unarmed paramilitary vessels, particularly from China Marine Surveillance (CMS) and the Fisheries Law Enforcement Command (FLEC), undertake the majority of China's activities in support of Beijing's claims to sovereignty in the South China Sea. CMS vessels confronted the US-donated Philippine Navy flagship Gregorio del Pilar in April 2012 near the disputed feature of Scarborough Shoal, beginning a stand-off that lasted months.