Chinese fishing 'militia' formations signal rising gray-zone pressure on Taiwan

Satellite data revealed large formations of Chinese fishing vessels, numbering up to 2,000, holding position in the East China Sea around Christmas 2023 and early January 2024. Analysts believe this behavior represents a "gray zone" exercise, potentially involving the People's Armed Forces Maritime Militia (PAFMM), a state-organized force supporting China's navy. Experts suggest these formations could be operating under military direction, impacting their status under international law. They advise Taiwan to consider deploying surveillance to deter further actions. The U.S. Department of Defense has previously described the PAFMM as actively supporting China's military, and similar swarm tactics have been observed in the South China Sea. The recent incidents suggest an expansion in the scale of these maritime militia operations.