Tracking the Movements of China’s Maritime Militia in the South China Sea

Source: Planet Labs, Maxar Technologies, AMTI

China sharply increased the deployment of its informal, ostensibly civilian fleet of fishing vessels known as its “maritime militia” that helps assert territorial claims in the South China Sea, according to new data from the Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative (AMTI) at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, D.C.

Nearly 200 Chinese militia ships were tracked daily last year, according to AMTI, a 35% increase over the same period in 2022.

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by Eric Olander

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