01 June 2016
- RSIS
- Publication
- External Publications
- Chinese Fishermen in Disputed Waters: Not Quite a ‘People’s War’
Chinese Fishermen in Disputed Waters: Not Quite a ‘People’s War’
China’s strategic and political considerations have directly and indirectly contributed to the growing presence of Chinese fishermen in disputed waters in the South China Sea and in the East China Sea. But it is an overstatement to claim that China is launching a “people’s war” at sea. Based on extensive interviews with Chinese fishermen, scholars, and government officials and with a comprehensive review of the official documents, news reports, and existing research papers, the author argues that food security and economic factors are the primary drivers for the outward expansion of China’s marine fishery sector. The Chinese fishermen are increasingly placed at the center stage of maritime conflicts in the troubled regional waters.
China’s strategic and political considerations have directly and indirectly contributed to the growing presence of Chinese fishermen in disputed waters in the South China Sea and in the East China Sea. But it is an overstatement to claim that China is launching a “people’s war” at sea. Based on extensive interviews with Chinese fishermen, scholars, and government officials and with a comprehensive review of the official documents, news reports, and existing research papers, the author argues that food security and economic factors are the primary drivers for the outward expansion of China’s marine fishery sector. The Chinese fishermen are increasingly placed at the center stage of maritime conflicts in the troubled regional waters.
