Photo from http://defence-blog.com/news/photos-charge-of-the-10000-ton-china-coast-guard-cutter.html
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As predicted earlier, the China Coast Guard has been moved into their equivalent of DOD.
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DefenseWorld reports that,
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“The China Coast Guard will be absorbed into the country’s Central Military Commission (CMC), effective July 1, after the transfer of command from the State Oceanic Administration, local media reports.”
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“The coast guard will reportedly be integrated into the PLA Navy as an auxiliary branch.”
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“People’s Daily revealed that the Coast guard ships would be armed with more powerful small diameter cannons instead of water cannon. Under the leadership of the CMC, ship crews could also be authorized to carry fire arms.”
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An earlier Bloomberg report stated
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“The latest change makes the fleet part of the People’s Armed Police, or PAP, a domestic paramilitary force also directly under Xi’s command in December.”
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It was only a little over five years ago that the China Coast Guard was formed from four independent agents. We have already seen it becoming better armed. They are operating former Chinese frigates. They are building much bigger cutters, and cutters based on Chinese Navy frigates and corvettes.
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The China Coast Guard has proven its value, and it looks like President Xi has recognized its potential and wants to take more direct control.
Chuck Hill's CG Blog 
Paint them a nice shade of gray; tally them into the PLAN order of battle; and kiss the South China Sea goodbye. As if there was any doubt about China’s longstanding intentions
Wellllllll, maybe not that bad. We are talking about an autocratic oligarchy here, so this change in departments only is an operational / organizational change. Let’s not give away the South China Sea quite yet.
Point taken to be sure, but China impressed me as clearly strategic and patient in achieving its ultimate goals and this one is obvious. Their artificial island building/reclamation was (and is being) achieved under the thinly veiled smokescreen of establishing rescue stations, ATON facilities etc. and now those islands bristle with missiles, air bases and other access denial assets. In and of itself, incorporating even up-gunned Coast Guard vessels doesn’t seal the deal. But I think it is hard to dispute ultimate intention and consequences.
Absolutely. Their patience is legendary, but since their economic flip to partial capitalism and massive increase in indutrial capacity over the last 25 years seems to have increased their pace…
Whether China’s moves to take over the South China Sea succeed or not depends more on the reaction of other claimants than it does on the US. So far Philippines looks like they are folding. Vietnam is not, Indonesia is not. Taiwan is on the side of China. Other nations not as clear.
I’m not sure a coalition of all of those countries would be much more than a speed-bump for China. Australia, Japan (if we want to include the Senkaku Islands argument), USA, and the international community (from a freedom of navigation point of view) are bigger worries for China.
True, but unless they stand up for their rights we cannot come to their aid.
they are patient and do the long haul. they will probably get what they want. all though it won’t make a difference we really should have approved the law of the sea treaty