China is expanding its reach in the South China Sea by using a fleet of "fishing militia" to collect information on foreign vessels passing through the international waterway.

Navy officials in Beijing, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said that they have been conducting maritime exercises using a fleet of fishing boats in the disputed waters.

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The fishermen, who have been military-trained, are deployed on tiny boats from Hainan island to spy on foreign ships navigating in the South China Sea.

GPS

The fishing vessels are equipped with Global Positioning Satellites (GPS) that will allow the fishermen to call the Chinese coast guard for help in case of emergencies. They also carry small weapons in case of a confrontation with foreign vessels.

"The maritime militia is expanding because of the country's need for it, and because of the desire of the fishermen to engage in national service, protecting our country's interests," a Hainan government adviser told Reuters.

The adviser said the Chinese government pays the fishermen after finishing the basic military training and subsidizes the costs of improving their vessels.

Search and rescue operations

Part of the military training includes search and rescue operations, disaster preparedness, and "safeguarding Chinese sovereignty."

Tensions between among China and other claimant countries have been escalating in the South China Sea following Beijing's construction of airstrips, outposts, and other military facilities in disputed territories.

Beijing built artificial islands in the contested Spratly group of islands which are also being claimed by Taiwan, Brunei, Philippines, Taiwan, and Vietnam.

Freedom of Navigation

The United States continues to conduct aerial and naval patrols near the Chinese-controlled territory in the South China Sea to challenge Beijing's territorial claims.

Washington said it will continue to uphold the freedom of navigation in the South China Sea despite China's protests.

International relations experts said that the increasing animosity between Beijing and Washington could trigger a naval war.

TagsChinese fishing militia, china, South China Sea, spratly islands, maritime exercises