This article (by Japanese in US) undertakes a legal assessment of the vessels and operations conducted by the Chinese maritime militia, employing a law enforcement perspective as the analytical lens. During peacetime, those vessels engage in fishing and low-intensity military activities but in armed conflict transition to tasks like reconnaissance. Notably, these maritime militias are frequently deployed in what is commonly termed as "gray zone" scenarios, which lack a clearly defined designation as either peacetime or contingency situations. Their principal objective lies in asserting territorial claims without resorting to full-scale armed conflict. This article delves into an exploration of the legal status accorded to these vessels, examining whether they are entitled to the sovereign immunity afforded to warships or ships operated by a State for non-commercial purposes under international law.
