Maritime Militias: How Paramilitary Forces Redefine the World’s Key Waterways

Recent incidents highlight the growing trend of state-backed militias being used to unofficially project power on the high seas

Chinese fishing vessels near Whitsun Reef, which is disputed between China and the Philippines. Vessels tied together, or rafting, is a gray-zone tactic to establish semi-permanent floating outposts. Source

On December 10, 2023, two Philippine ships accompanied by a coast guard vessel embarked on a resupply mission to the BRP Sierra Madre, a naval vessel-turned-naval outpost on the Second Thomas Shoal. Manned by military personnel, the outpost serves to back Philippine claims of sovereignty over the shoal and the waters around the South China Sea, which China increasingly contests as its own. This resupply mission was not ordinary: Philippine Armed Forces (AFP) Chief of Staff General Romeo Brawner Jr. was on one of the vessels, demonstrating the seriousness of Manilla's sovereignty claims. 

Large, blue-hulled Chinese fishing vessels – nearly 50 in total – and several white-hulled official Chinese coast guard vessels soon shadowed the Philippine convoy. The Chinese vessels came dangerously close to their Philippine counterparts as they attempted to block them from reaching the BRP Sierra Madre. The situation escalated when the Chinese vessels sprayed the Philippine ships with water cannons. A China Coast Guard vessel rammed the Philippine vessel carrying General Brawner. Further harassment ensued, causing severe damage to the engine of one of the Philippine vessels, forcing it to turn back. 

General Brawner reached the BRP Sierra Madre successfully that day, witnessing first-hand the growing reports of harassment faced by his sailors in waters recognized by international law as belonging to the Philippines. Meanwhile, in waters over 4,200 miles to the west, attacks by Iran-backed Houthis on the Red Sea have disrupted global trade as other countries prepare to fund grey-zone maritime militias. Tehran is also planning to deploy militias to its territorial waters.

These and other developments highlight the growing threat unofficial maritime paramilitary groups pose at key strategic locations worldwide. With over 90% of all global trade done over the sea and much of this passing through strategic chokepoints prone to conflict spillover, maintaining these waterways and their resources is of growing concern to many countries. With much of this security burden increasingly falling upon these paramilitary forces, the risk of escalation on these key waterways continues to rise.