plawolf
Lieutenant General
I think people are reading both too much and too little into the news of this transfer.
They are reading too much from this in terms of the PLAN’s manpower and planning. Because I think a lump sum mass transfer like this is only done because of a significant role change between the PLAN and CCG.
In this move, I see the more significant transfer from the PLAN to the CCG being the coastal/brown water patrol duties that these 20 056 corvettes were designed and built to perform.
My take away from this is that the PLAN is cutting away a lot of its legacy patrol duties, specifically where there is territorial dispute.
Traditionally, CCG ships were lightly or even not armed, that puts them at a significant disadvantage when facing off against the armed coast guard ships from other powers, so PLAN warships often need to chaperone, which is not ideal as it ties down naval assets and also needlessly escalates disputes to involve navies.
With the stripped down 056s, the CCG still easily outgun any other coast guard ships. That removes the need for the PLAN to be involved in territorial disputes, but could also signal a much more muscular and robust approach to territorial disputes to need such firepower as insurance.
My take is that China is taking a leaf from the Russian playbook and will be expanding its grey zone operations to put pressure on hostile powers.
They are reading too much from this in terms of the PLAN’s manpower and planning. Because I think a lump sum mass transfer like this is only done because of a significant role change between the PLAN and CCG.
In this move, I see the more significant transfer from the PLAN to the CCG being the coastal/brown water patrol duties that these 20 056 corvettes were designed and built to perform.
My take away from this is that the PLAN is cutting away a lot of its legacy patrol duties, specifically where there is territorial dispute.
Traditionally, CCG ships were lightly or even not armed, that puts them at a significant disadvantage when facing off against the armed coast guard ships from other powers, so PLAN warships often need to chaperone, which is not ideal as it ties down naval assets and also needlessly escalates disputes to involve navies.
With the stripped down 056s, the CCG still easily outgun any other coast guard ships. That removes the need for the PLAN to be involved in territorial disputes, but could also signal a much more muscular and robust approach to territorial disputes to need such firepower as insurance.
My take is that China is taking a leaf from the Russian playbook and will be expanding its grey zone operations to put pressure on hostile powers.
