Chinese fishing vessel fleet (Photo: The Maritime Executive)
Real Clear Defense has a post by the J. C. Wylie Chair of Maritime Strategy at the Naval War College, Dr. James R. Holmes, discussing the implications of the planned Philippine/US Coast Guard joint patrols in the South China Sea.
It is a thought-provoking article but I would argue for a change of emphasis. The Chinese consider what is happening war without gunsmoke, but if we engage on that basis we are already at war. Rather I would suggest we see this as purely law enforcement vigorously applied–which is of course the reason it is the US Coast Guard rather than the USN that will be conducting these joint patrols.
- If foreign vessels fishing in the Philippine EEZ without a license is not already illegal, make it so. The Philippines should make sure the Chinese know that is how it will be viewed and act accordingly.
- No foreign vessels should be allowed to impede Philippine vessels conducting legal activities.
- No foreign vessels should be allowed to exploit the resources of the Philippine EEZ without a license.
- No foreign vessels should be allowed to damage resources in the Philippine EEZ.
The Chinese maritime militia has been very useful, but they may also be viewed as China’s weakness, since they are officially civilians. As civilians violating Philippine law, they should be subject to vigorous law enforcement action.
CRASH AVERTED This photo taken on April 23, 2023 shows BRP Malapascua (right) maneuvering as a Chinese coast guard ship cuts its path at Second Thomas Shoal in the Spratly Islands. AFP PHOTO
If a vessel chooses to block a Coast Guard vessel and violates the Rules of the Road in the process, if a collision results and their engineroom floods, it was their violation of the Rules of the Road that caused the collision.
This is lawfare, not warfare, and the law is on the side of the Philippines. The Chinese are acting as a gang of thieves stealing from their weaker neighbors. Diplomatically the US and the Philippines need to work toward something similar to the Combined Maritime Forces organization in SW Asia and fielding a law enforcement alliance like my proposed Combined Maritime Security Task Force Pacific. (“Combined” used this way means multi-national.)
Chuck Hill's CG Blog 
Work on the diplomatic side. https://maritime-executive.com/article/philippines-and-vietnam-plan-cooperation-agreement-on-s-china-sea?fbclid=IwAR2zXVrJaGUT-BCo7ZrEGtLGyCBIwYEd9cac9msg7uzMsMIR-S2DML9-u9I
The Sad thing is Chuck, Compared to the our US Coast Guard, the Philippine Coast Guard is outmatched and outgunned. Their ships are not armed like the US Coast Guard. That’s why the Philippine Coast Guard needs a REALITY check and they need to be armed like the USCG. At the very least they should look at upgunning themselves to a 25 mm gun to even 76 or 57 MM main deck gun.
Paging Chuck Hill,
You may want to see this
Lebanese navy to soon receive 3 protector class boats from the US, eyes 3 more
https://breakingdefense.com/2023/08/lebanese-navy-to-soon-receive-3-protector-class-boats-from-the-us-eyes-3-more/
Here’s my Opinion, the USCG should unload a few 110’s Island class patrol boats along with the 87 ft patrol boats and maybe get them in line for the used 210 and 270’s when the OPC comes online.
270’s yes, 210,s no! Way too old!
I can see Lebanon getting the old 110’s along with the 270’s. Maybe the USCG can help them build a USCG style Navy
While I generally agree that a more aggressive approach is required with the Chinese fishing fleets, what they have in abundance is numbers. Imagine 30 of them blockading a Philipine Coast Guard ship. Even if the CG vessel sinks one of them, it would still be outnumbered, and the loss of life would increase tensions not decrease them. Let’s see how the USCG can handle things, but I’m not confident that we will avoid the same situation.
The Philipine Coast Guard has to be considerably increased in size, capability and capacity to make a sustainable impact on these rogue fishing fleets.
The problem with the Philippine Coast Guard is that they are outgunned by China. They have never upgunned their patrol boats and their current patrol boats are considered a push over. They really need to face reality that they need to upgun themselves or else they are gona be pushed aside by China. They should be pushing for at least 30mm up to 76 mm guns
The Philippines has a serious pacifist/appeasement problem. While it is understandable to try and “play nice” with everyone, the only small to medium-sized countries which survive are those who make themselves as prickly as a porcupine. The Philippine Army isn’t bad, but it’s not great. Their Navy, CG, and Air Force are kittens and will be swept away by China, as they currently exist. Security agreements and diplomacy are paper tigers if one doesn’t have some credible force to back them up.