Editor's Note

According to a report by the Beijing Times on January 21, China Shipbuilding Industry Corporation (CSIC) recently said on its official website that it signed contracts in 2013 to build two kinds of marine surveillance ships, one of them 10,000 tons.

The report said the CSIC's 704 Research Institute has received orders to begin construction of the ship, which would serve as a powerful tool in dealing with the frequent provocations of China's maritime security. 

About the world's two largest coast guard vessels

The Japanese Coast Guard currently owns the world’s two largest coast guard vessels. With a displacement of 7,175 tons, the Shikishima (commissioned in 1992) and Akitsushima (completed in late 2013) are capable of carrying two helicopters each and are often deployed for patrolling missions. The ships can travel at 20 knots with a maximum endurance of 20,000 nautical miles. The vessels are equipped with two 35-mm twin naval guns and two 20-mm Vulcan cannons, according to the Beijing Times.

Latest News

China builds world's largest patrol ship: report China is reportedly building a 10,000-ton class marine surveillance vessel, the largest of its kind in the world, amid the country's buildup of its maritime law enforcement force against the backdrop of territorial disputes at sea. CSIC's spokesman Liu Zhengguo Tuesday declined to confirm the news to the Global Times, saying it would take days to verify the information.

Reported marine        surveillance ships

East China Sea fleet under the China Marine Surveillance (CMS)

Source: ifeng.com

China's Maritime Strategy

Source: CCTV

Backgrounder

The State Oceanic Administration got structured
The restructured body integrates the functions of China Marine Surveillance, the coast guard forces under the Ministry of Public Security, the fisheries law enforcement command with the Ministry of Agriculture and maritime anti-smuggling police of the General Administration of Customs.

Maritime police vessel facts
Chinese maritime police vessels perform law enforcement tasks and are armed for self-defense. They will be painted white with red and blue stripes, as well as carry the new "CHINA COAST GUARD" emblem, the Xinhua News Agency reported.

Vessels are permitted to carry weapons and are better equipped for law enforcement than surveillance ships.

Maritime police ships perform both administrative and law enforcement duties, and can function as a police station. China's marine law enforcement and rights protection system will continue its efforts to meet international standards, according to Yunnan TV.

Comments

Building large tonnage vessels has become a trend in shoring up China's maritime strength, as the fleet of the patrol ships used to be made up of outdated vessels as well as retired warships, which were refitted.
          ---Li Daguang, a professor at the National Defense University of the People's Liberation Army

The large ship could more effectively drive away armed foreign fishing boats, which operate in waters claimed by China, and carry out close-up surveillance on offshore oil platforms set up by foreign countries.
                ---Wang Xiaopeng, a maritime border expert at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences

During recent years, neighboring countries have infringed on China's maritime interests and sovereignty. Our surveillance ships are too few in number to guard our maritime interests.

Although China has devoted much to its naval force with the construction of more ships, its number of marine law enforcement ships is still insufficient. This is inconsistent with the fact that China is a country of vast maritime territory.

It is exciting to learn that China will build the world's largest 10,000-ton surveillance ship, which is 3,000 tons heavier than the largest Japanese ship. I hope this is a good start and more and stronger law enforcement ships will be produced. Meanwhile, I hope more new law enforcement ships will be deployed to the East China Sea to handle the Diaoyu Islands issue.
                                                                                                        ---Blogger Zhichengdabing

Collisions

With the USS Cowpens
In a statement released on December 17, 2013, China's defense ministry said the Chinese warship encountered the US vessel during a regular patrol mission in the South China Sea, and handled the situation strictly according to relevant operation specifications.

With the Vietnamese vessel

The documentary, recently aired on CCTV-4, disclosed for the first time scenes of China Marine Surveillance confronting Vietnamese ships that had entered the South China Sea. The Chinese and Vietnamese ships were on a collision course. It was very shocking.

A Chinese surveillance ship collided with armed foreign ships in 2007 while protecting Chinese exploration ships.

To watch the video

About CMS

Under charge of the State Oceanic Administration, China Marine Surveillance (CMS) consists of the China Marine Surveillance corps, the sea-area corps (North Sea corps, East China Sea corps and South China Sea corps) and branches at all levels. The CMS includes a total 8,400 personnel, nine marine surveillance planes and over 200 vessels capable of carrying out high-level sea and air operations, the Beijing Times reported.

Future Development

Based on current development, China will rival the US in terms of coast guard ships around the year 2020.

Apart from 11 retrofitted vessels, most of the fleet were built in accordance with civil ship standards, which are relatively inferior in strength. In addition, China's surveillance ships still lag behind in terms of helicopter transport capability. China must strive to improve in these areas in order to compete with Japan and the US.

China now maintains differences with the US and Japan in terms of development strategy of maritime patrol vessels. It remains to be seen whether the ship will be built according to warship standards and equipped with heavy weaponry.

Source: CCTV

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Web editor: gelili@globaltimes.com.cn