While Beijing continues its assertive tactics to try to control more waterways in defiance of regional and international opinion, Hanoi is responding but has far fewer boats.
China and Vietnam have both been building up paramilitary forces and fishing fleets to stake claims in the disputed South China Sea, according to observers, who warn that the neighbours risk further clashes there after the sinking of a Vietnamese fishing boat last week.
Beijing claims almost all of the South China Sea as its territory and has built artificial islands with military-capable facilities over reefs and outcrops in the area, which are also claimed in part by Vietnam. In addition to fishing boats, security analysts have said the two neighbours have built up their maritime forces, comprising naval, coastguard and law enforcement vessels.
According to the Pentagon, China’s maritime militias are officially numbered at 21 million fishers and 439,000 motor boats.
Singapore Latest News, Singapore Headlines
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