Keeping the waters secure

The patrol missions in the South China Sea are critical steps to fend off threats to China's waters. Though the patrol missions are absolutely necessary, reforming the institutions and disseminating maritime concepts are even more vital and urgent, says an article in the Shanghai Morning Post. Following is an excerpt:

In recent years, China has been investing in more human and physical capital to upgrade maritime equipment. The enormous efforts notwithstanding, a gap between reality and requirement remains. The quantity and quality of ships, aircraft and other equipments are not sufficient. The equipment is scattered in many departments, including maritime patrolling, maritime inspection, fishery administration and maritime policing, among others. Since forces are not integrated, the country is greatly disadvantaged compared with unified maritime institutions such as the US or Japan coast guards.

The gap in maritime strategy and concept is even larger. While we sometimes conduct maritime operations on a grand scale, the dearth of positive and long-term maritime strategy and sufficient capability sees China's maritime territory troubled by other countries encroaching on it.