Political impacts of Ukraine war

[Altair]

You're assuming those "fishing boats" are actually really fishing boats and crewed by fishers and not by PLAN crews.

I thought fishing boats fell under the PLAN naval militia?

 

[Haggis]

I thought fishing boats fell under the PLAN naval militia?

According to the US Naval Institute, parts of the Chinese fishing fleet operate as a state-sanctioned maritime militia—often referred to as the People’s Armed Force Maritime Militia (PAFMM)—which acts under the command of the People's Liberation Army (PLA). While not part of the formal PLAN, they work alongside the navy and coast guard to advance sovereignty claims in disputed waters.