With thousands of commercial vessels, how China controls the seas

[Han Patriot]

The owner has to register the ship in the same country they fly their flag from, if the ship fly a Panama Flag, then they would have to register the ship at Panama.

When you fly those countries flag, you are part of that territories in high seas according to the Law of the Sea

Effectively, if a ship is at port, it belongs to the owner, if the ship is in High Sea (ie international water) the ship belongs to the country whose flag they fly. In high seas, the sovereignty of the ship belongs to the flag that ship fly. So, if a ship flying Panama Flag in high sea, regardless of who own it, the responsibility of that ship belongs to Panama authority according to Admiralty Law.

Even if the owner is Chinese, if the ship is underway at sea, China has no jurisdiction what-so-ever if that ship was registered in Panama and fly a Panama flag.

What if the owner suddenly registers in China within 1 hour?

You don't control the sea with ship you own, you control the sea with port you own, no port = no trade rout, without trade route, your ship can't really do shit....

What about ship to ship transfers?

 

[beijingwalker]

What if the owner suddenly registers in China within 1 hour?


What about ship to ship transfers?

But in a real war scenario, do owner countries of the ships still care about under what flags the ships sail under?

 

[jhungary]

What if the owner suddenly registers in China within 1 hour?


What about ship to ship transfers?

Yeah, ask MMSI or IMO to see if they do 1 hour registration?

 

[jhungary]

But in a real war scenario, do owner countries of the ships still care about under what flags the ships sail under?

It's not about whether or not the owner countries of origin would care, it's whether or not the country who board that ship would care. They won't see it as Chinese ship, and China can't do shit if they board it in High Sea as long as they don't fly Chinese flag.

 

[beijingwalker]

It's not about whether or not the owner countries of origin would care, it's whether or not the country who board that ship would care. They won't see it as Chinese ship, and China can't do shit if they board it in High Sea as long as they don't fly Chinese flag.

All cruise ships in US bear other countries flags, do you mean US can't commission those ships for military use in case of war? In China, we can.

 

[jhungary]

All cruise ships in US bear other countries flags, do you mean US can't commission those ships for military use in case of war? In China, we can.

First of all, commission for what? If you need to commission those ship for military use, that mean you probably are already losing the war at sea. Otherwise pressing (it was not called Commissioning by the way) a civilian ship in military service is probably the last thing you need a la Dunkirk Evacuation.

Second of all, the same principal applies, If that ship is in Chinese port, you can press it into PLAN service, if that ship is at sea or at a foreign port, it have to follow the International Law of the Sea, which mean if the owner declare the ship now "Pressed" into Chinese Naval service, any country can still board it and detain it, or if it is dock at a foreign port, intern it if that port country is neutral in that war China involved with.

Again, it's NEVER what that master of the ship do, it's ALWAYS the people who board the ship matter. You can claim that ship is Chinese Navy ship now, that does not mean the country that ship at port with, or the country that operate on international maritime border will care.

 

[beijingwalker]

First of all, commission for what? If you need to commission those ship for military use, that mean you probably are already losing the war at sea.

Not in case of China, maritime militia is always part of China's naval strength.

Again, it's NEVER what that master of the ship do, it's ALWAYS the people who board the ship matter. You can claim that ship is Chinese Navy ship now, that does not mean the country that ship at port with, or the country that operate on international maritime border will care.

China owned ships are almost all manned by Chinese citizens, no worry about that.

 

[jhungary]

Not in case of China, maritime militia is always part of China's naval strength.

Sure, same way Russia call 300,000 reserve up, that's strength, right?

China owned ships are almost all manned by Chinese citizens, no worry about that.

It does nothing.

Again, if that ship is at sea or in foreign port, they will just intern it or board it, and if they fight back, the country that operate in those area can destroy your civilian ship.

You cannot change the registration of a ship by just declaring it. That's against law of the sea, I don't really care if that ship is staffed by Chinese Citizens. That does not make the country that board you lost the right to board your ship.

 

[beijingwalker]

Sure, same way Russia call 300,000 reserve up, that's strength, right?

Don't know, but they are always part of China's maritime security assets from day one.

Again, if that ship is at sea or in foreign port, they will just intern it or board it, and if they fight back, the country that operate in those area can destroy your civilian ship.

How effectively they can fight is another issue.

 

[jhungary]

Don't know, but they are always part of China's maritime security assets from day one.

But you can only use them WHEN they are in Chinese port.

I mean, unless you invade every country the port that your Civilian ships are, you cannot control those ship that are not in your port.

 

[beijingwalker]

But you can only use them WHEN they are in Chinese port.

I mean, unless you invade every country the port that your Civilian ships are, you cannot control those ship that are not in your port.

Of course, they are used near China, I never thought about they go to other countries to fight, China's goal is to defend China's surrounding waters.

China using civilian ships to enhance navy capability, reach

China has been increasingly using civilian ships including hundreds of fishing trawlers to back up its vast territorial claims and project military power. China’s navy is already the world’s largest

www.reflector.com

 

[jhungary]

Of course, they are used near China, I never thought about they go to other countries to fight, China's goal is to defend China's surrounding waters.

China using civilian ships to enhance navy capability, reach

China has been increasingly using civilian ships including hundreds of fishing trawlers to back up its vast territorial claims and project military power. China’s navy is already the world’s largest

www.reflector.com

So you only ship your stuff to country around China?

Then how do you send stuff from China to US or Canada or South Africa? All done by air?

 

[beijingwalker]

So you only ship your stuff to country around China?

Then how do you send stuff from China to US or Canada or South Africa? All done by air?

Read the OP article again...

China already has the world’s largest navy, though its ability to contend with U.S. naval forces remains in doubt. But leaders in Beijing have realized that maritime strength is not measured solely in firepower.

 

[jhungary]

Read the OP article again...

It have nothing to do with OP article, you said you only use ship to country around China. I asked then how do you send stuff further away??

If you use ship, those ship will be out of your control when underway, even for country around China, those ship would still be out of your control in war once they are off Chinese Water, unless you plan on invading each and every one of those country your ship docked.

 

[beijingwalker]

It have nothing to do with OP article, you said you only use ship to country around China. I asked then how do you send stuff further away??

I thought you were talking about the OP article, as for global sea blocade, no one will do this at least for now, globalization means no one can survive by themselves, espeically for manufacturing lacking US, so it's not really a worry. South China sea and Taiwan strait are the only two possible scenarios that China and US may clash at certain levels and those are where Chinese maritime militia plays out.