A Roadmap to Contesting PAFMM
Abstract
China's rise in status as a major power in the western pacific is complemented by growth of aggressive behaviors as it attempts to assert its dominance in the region. The Chinese growth model has necessitated the use of an increasingly large maritime force to further the requirements for their sustained progression, including the unprecedented expansion of its commercial fishing fleet. The People's Armed Forces Maritime Militias (PAFMM) harnesses the asymmetric advantages of this massive commercial industry as an instrument of Chinese power by utilizing tactics not seen previously on the world stage. Their employment methods exploit the ambiguous gray space below the level of armed conflict and give the Chinese a nearly unchecked advantage in the region. USINDOPACOM should aggressively formalize a strategy to counter China's asymmetric Maritime Militias. The strategy should emphasize PAFMM designation as a State Sponsored Threat network, refocusing elements of the post 9-11 Joint Force capabilities and experience on PAFMM, and developing a formal cooperative framework with regional partners to establish a united front to counteract antagonistic PAFMM behaviors in the South and East China Seas.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- May 03, 2023
- Accession Number
- AD1210926
Entities
People
- Jaefen L. Thielker
Organizations
- Naval War College