Beijing's Gray-Zone Enforcers in East Asian Waters
China has long deployed a so-called maritime militia; vessels which appear to be civilian but are actually used to support Beijing's political and military goals in disputed waters. On December 25, 2025, one team of analysts noticed two strange L-shaped formations emerging in waters just off the coast of Japan. Days later, they reached a startling conclusion: the vessels were China's maritime militia practicing for a potential quarantine of Taiwan. Just how did they arrive at that conclusion, and what do other analysts have to say about this never-before observed phenomenon? Reporters Alan Lu and Cadence Quaranta talk to people who have analyzed and encountered the maritime militia firsthand. Analysts from igeniSPACE do not represent the opinion of the company and were allowed to speak to us independently. igeniSPACE does not take institutional positions on matters of policy.
