A giant Chinese coast guard vessel, also known as the “monster ship,” staged a show of force in the contested East China Sea that borders Japan, a treaty ally of the United States.
Newsweek has reached out to the Japanese Defense Ministry for comment by email.
Why It Matters
China has the largest maritime law enforcement fleet in the world, the Pentagon said in its assessment report on the Chinese military power last December, with over 150 regional and oceangoing patrol vessels that weigh more than 1,000 tons in displacement in service.
Among China’s coast guard ships are the two 12,000-ton “monster ships,” the CCG-2901 and the CCG-5901. They are the world’s biggest ships designed for maritime law enforcement, three times heavier than the Legend-class cutters of the U.S. Coast Guard.
The China Coast Guard (CCG) has maintained a persistent presence around the Senkaku Islands, a group of islets in the East China Sea that is ruled by Japan but claimed by both China and Taiwan, known as the Diaoyu Islands and the Tiaoyutai Islands, respectively.
What To Know
The China Coast Guard recently dispatched a ship formation to an undisclosed location in waters in the East China Sea for “high-intensity specialized training” that ran for five days, the military channel of the China Central Television (CCTV) reported on Tuesday.
Released footage shows four vessels, including the CCG-2901, participated in the training, which saw them sail in formation and carry out replenishment at sea training. The ships overcame undesirable sea conditions such as strong winds and waves, according to the report.
A Chinese media commentator noted the significance of the so-called “multidirectional” replenishment at sea training, claiming that this was only observed in the Chinese navy in the past, suggesting the coast guard is preparing for “oceangoing navigation training.”
During this training, the CCG-2901 served as a replenishment ship while the three other coast guard vessels, which are smaller in size, were seen sailing around it—two were transiting alongside and one was following behind—for replenishment while underway.
China Central Television
Last year, a Chinese shipbuilding research institute said it would design “comprehensive support carriers” and “integrated supply ships” for the coast guard’s far-sea operations. The training indicated a new coast guard ship will be unveiled soon, the commentator added.
Replenishment ships, capable of transferring fuel, munitions, and stores to other vessels at sea, are necessary for any long-distance voyage. The Chinese flotilla that circumnavigated Australia consisted of a replenishment ship, which supported two warships all the way.
What People Are Saying
The Pentagon wrote in its report on China’s military power on December 18, 2024: “Newer [China Coast Guard] vessels are larger and more capable, enabling them to operate farther off shore and remain on station longer … The newer, larger [China Coast Guard] vessels are equipped with helicopter facilities, high-capacity water cannons, multiple interceptor boats and guns ranging from 30 mm to 76 mm.”
Liu Dejun, a spokesperson for the China Coast Guard, said on March 24: “Diaoyu Dao and its affiliated islands have all along been China’s territory. We urge the Japanese side to immediately cease all illegal activities in the waters around them.”
What Happens Next
The China Coast Guard last year held a monthlong patrol with its Russian counterparts that saw it reach the Arctic Ocean, covering over 17,000 nautical miles. It remains to be seen whether China will send its coast guard ships outside the Western Pacific Ocean this year.
