US Navy warships operating in South China Sea facing threats from Chinese ‘Fishing Militias’

The appearance of numerous Chinese fishing vessels in the South China Sea shortly after China Coast Guard (CCG) vessels employed water cannons against a Philippine ship suggests that China's contentious maritime militia might become active should a conflict arise involving Beijing, Manila, and the US-led coalition, reported The Eurasian Times.
Recently, the US, Australia, and Japan announced joint exercises in the South China Sea in response to the August 5 incident, during which six CCG ships, along with the fishing militia that often operates as China's quasi-military and unofficial maritime border management arm, obstructed two Philippine Navy-chartered civilian vessels delivering supplies to Philippine forces stationed at the Second Thomas Shoal.
Images posted on X (formerly Twitter) on August 16 depicted a substantial gathering of fishing vessels, potentially numbering in the hundreds, in the South China Sea, navigating around a cluster of small islands. Scholars and observers of China have long studied this maritime militia, which has been deployed in prior disputes with Vietnam and the Philippines over contested territories.

Concurrently, the joint drills conducted by Washington, Tokyo, and Canberra will involve helicopter carriers and three naval aircraft, showcasing military strength through coordinated exercises. The US plans to deploy the USS America aircraft carrier, while Japan will send its JS Izumo, one of the largest warships in its fleet. The Royal Australian Navy's HMAS Canberra, equipped with helicopters, will also participate, with the joint exercise having been planned several months earlier.

Described as a sea border management and enforcement entity, the 'maritime militia' serves to assert China's