White hulls staking their claim
The strategic battle for influence and control in the South China Sea has highlighted capability gaps among many nations, particularly in maritime patrol and coast guard.
While China continues apace with the expansion of its coast guard fleet, regional nations are taking stock of their own assets and, shorn of the industrial and financial muscle of the superpower in their midst, look to potential allies for assistance.
To make matters more complex, competing nations around the South China Sea often overlap with their territorial claims, leading to flashpoints separate from China’s own claim.
‘These moves are intended by the US,
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