YouTube Early Access: China Is Waging A Hidden War At Sea (Patreon)

China's massive fishing fleet functions as a quasi-military force, often termed a "maritime militia," used to assert territorial claims, intimidate neighbors and control disputed waters like the South China Sea, blurring lines between civilian fishing, illegal activities (IUU fishing), intelligence gathering and military-civil fusion, leading to frequent clashes with other nations' coast guards and fishing vessels, escalating tensions. These fleets are used to establish control, obstruct foreign ships, gather data and conduct activities beyond normal fishing supported by government subsidies.