Recently, the Chinese Coast Guard has made frequent appearances, especially in response to the Philippines' illegal operations in the waters near Scarborough Shoal. According to reports, Philippine Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Bureau vessels have repeatedly illegally entered the waters adjacent to Scarborough Shoal, and the Chinese Coast Guard has handled them professionally and standardly, demonstrating its strong ability to defend its rights.
In addition to this, the China Coast Guard has also carried out a number of law enforcement operations in other waters. In the territorial waters of the Diaoyu Islands, the China Coast Guard 2502 ship carried out a patrol; The Fujian Coast Guard Bureau has carried out regular law enforcement inspections in the Xiajin Sea area to maintain order in the sea area and the safety of fishermen.
These actions are just one part of the CCG's maritime law enforcement efforts. According to Japan's Kyodo News Agency, Chinese coast guard vessels patrolled the waters off the Senkakus for 352 days in 2023, a new record since 2012.
The mission of the China Coast Guard is to safeguard the country's territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests. Dr. Ding Duo, deputy director of the Institute of Maritime Law and Policy, said that the "Coast Guard Law" empowers the coast guard to patrol, alert, guard, prevent, stop and eliminate acts that endanger national sovereignty, security and maritime rights and interests in the waters under China's jurisdiction. In the case of Scarborough Shoal, the Chinese Coast Guard's handling of the incident demonstrated its determination to fulfill its mission.
A professional, who asked not to be named, said that the Chinese coast guard faces various challenges when it enforces the law in various seas 365 days a year. He pointed out that the strength of the coast guard is not only reflected in the number and equipment, but also in the quality of personnel, physical fitness, and psychological quality.
Maritime law enforcement operations not only test ships, but also facilitate the optimization of equipment. Experts point out that the improvement of China's coast guard equipment has made it more capable of carrying out tasks at sea. With a displacement of up to 1The 20,000-ton Haijing 3901, for example, is one of the largest coast guard ships in the world with all kinds of advanced equipment.
However, the claim that the China Coast Guard is the world's largest maritime law enforcement force is not shared by professionals. They believe that comprehensive strength cannot be measured only by quantitative indicators, but also needs to take into account other factors such as combat capability and aircraft.
The coast guard's law enforcement actions are not a "gray zone", but a legitimate act to safeguard national sovereignty and maritime rights and interests. Ding Duo pointed out that the actions of the Chinese coast guard are to defend territorial sovereignty and maritime delimitation disputes, not geopolitical considerations.
In the current complex geopolitical environment, professionals call for strengthening the construction of the coast guard, especially the aviation force of the coast guard, to improve the ability to respond to emergencies. Only through strong rights protection actions can violations of national interests and maritime security be stopped.
In summary, the China Coast Guard plays an important role in maritime law enforcement, not only safeguarding national sovereignty and security, but also contributing to the maintenance of regional peace and stability.