Thousands of Chinese fishing boats have been massing in geometric formations in the East China Sea, in coordinated actions that experts believe are part of Beijing's preparations for a potential regional crisis or conflict.
Monitoring ship-tracking data on Christmas Day, Jason Wang could tell something "unusual" was underway as fishing boats swarmed into two parallel inverted Ls , each about 400 kilometres (about 250 miles) long.
kAm(2?8 4@F=5 D66 E96 C@F89=J a[___ 7:D9:?8 3@2ED 2>@?8 E96 >2?J E9@FD2?5D @7 G6DD6=D E92E A=J E96 3FDJ H2E6CH2J E9C@F89 E96:C 2FE@>2E:4 :56?E:7:42E:@? DJDE6>D Wpx$X \\ 2 v!$\EJA6 D:8?2= E92E 4@>>6C4:2= D9:AD FD6 E@ 2G@:5 4@==:D:@?D]k^Am
kAm%96 G6DD6=D[ H9:49 H6C6 2D 4=@D6 2D d__ >6EC6D W`[ec_ 766EX E@ 6249 @E96C[ 96=5 E96:C A@D:E:@?D 7@C 23@FE b_ 9@FCD :? ?62C 82=6\7@C46 H:?5D 2?5 E96? DF556?=J D42EE6C65]Â k^Am
kAmQ$@>6E9:?8 5:5?VE =@@< C:89E E@ >6 3642FD6 :? ?2EFC6 G6CJ C2C6=J 5@ J@F D66 DEC2:89E =:?6D[Q D2:5 (2?8[ 49:67 @A6C2E:?8 @77:46C @7 :?86?:$!prt[ H9:49 2?2=JD6D D2E6==:E6 :>286CJ 2?5 D9:A D:8?2=D 52E2]k^Am
kAmQ(6VG6 D66? =:<6 EH@[ b__[ FA E@ 2 E9@FD2?5 Wr9:?6D6 7:D9:?8 3@2ED 4@?8C682E6X[ 3FE 2?JE9:?8 6I4665:?8 2 E9@FD2?5 x E9@F89E H2D F?FDF2=]Qk^Am
kAm|2C:E:>6 2?5 >:=:E2CJ 6IA6CED E@=5 pu! E96 >2DD:?8 @7 r9:?6D6 7:D9:?8 3@2ED @? s646>36C ad[ 23@FE b__ <:=@>6EC6D ?@CE962DE @7 %2:H2?[ H2D @? 2 D42=6 E96J 925 ?6G6C D66? 367@C6]k^Am
kAmp?@E96C :?4:56?E 56E64E65 :? 62C=J y2?F2CJ :?G@=G65 2C@F?5 `[___ r9:?6D6 7:D9:?8 G6DD6=D 4=FDE6C65 :? 2? F?6G6? C64E2?8=6[ 23@FE c__ <:=@>6EC6D =@?8[ 7@C >@C6 E92? 2 52J :? E96 D2>6 2C62 @7 E96 t2DE r9:?2 $62]k^Am
kAmwF?5C65D @7 E9@D6 G6DD6=D H6C6 2=D@ 56E64E65 :? E96 s646>36C ad 6G6?E[ (2?8 E@=5 pu! :? 2? :?E6CG:6H :? %2:A6:]Â k^Am
kAm{2DE H66<[ 2C@F?5 `[a__ 3@2ED >2DD65 :? EH@ A2C2==6= =:?6D 7FCE96C 62DE @7 E96 y2?F2CJ 2?5 s646>36C 6G6?ED 2?5 96=5 E96:C A@D:E:@?D 7@C 23@FE b_ 9@FCD[ (2?8 D2:5]k^Am
kAmr9:?2VD >2DD:G6 7:D9:?8 7=66E @A6C2E6D :? E96 *6==@H $62[ t2DE r9:?2 $62 2?5 E96 $@FE9 r9:?2 $62[ 4@>A6E:?8 H:E9 7:D96CD 7C@> y2A2?[ $@FE9 z@C62[ %2:H2?[ ':6E?2> 2?5 E96 !9:=:AA:?6D] Â k^Am
kAm(9:=6 E96C6 :D 5632E6 23@FE H9J D@ >2?J r9:?6D6 7:D9:?8 G6DD6=D H@F=5 82E96C :? 86@>6EC:4 7@C>2E:@?D :? E96 @A6? D62[ 6IA6CED H:56=J 28C66 E92E E96J H6C6 ?@E E96C6 E@ 7:D9]k^Am
kAm$@>6 6IA6CED D2:5 E96 @?=J A=2FD:3=6 6IA=2?2E:@? H2D E92E r9:?2 H2D E6DE:?8 :ED 23:=:EJ E@ >2CD92= 2 =2C86 ?F>36C @7 7:D9:?8 G6DD6=D E92E 4@F=5 A@E6?E:2==J 36 56A=@J65 :? 2 >:=:E2CJ @A6C2E:@?[ DF49 2D 2 3=@4<256 @C :?G2D:@? @7 %2:H2?[ @C 2 4C:D:D H:E9 y2A2?]k^Am
kAmQxVG6 ?6G6C D66? 2 >2DD:?8 @7 r9:?6D6 7:D9:?8 3@2ED :? E96D6 ?F>36CD 2?JH96C6 @FED:56 @7 A@CE 6G6C[Q vC68@CJ !@=:?8[ 5:C64E@C @7 E96 pD:2 |2C:E:>6 %C2?DA2C6?4J x?:E:2E:G6 2E E96 (2D9:?8E@?\32D65 r6?E6C 7@C $EC2E68:4 2?5 x?E6C?2E:@?2= $EF5:6D Wr$x$X[ D2:5 @7 E96 s646>36C ad 6G6?E]k^Am
kAm%96 >2?@6FGC6D H6C6 2 Q56>@?DEC2E:@? H:E9 2 >:=:E2CJ =6?DQ E@ D9@H E9@D6 H2E49:?8 E92E E96 3@2ED 925 E96 23:=:EJ E@ 4@@C5:?2E6 E96:C >@G6>6?ED[ D2:5 y6??:76C !2C<6C[ 2 7@C>6C pFDEC2=:2? ?2G2= H2C72C6 @77:46C]k^Am
kAmQxVG6 D2:=65 2C@F?5 E96 6?E:C6 H@C=5 2?5 xVG6 ?@E D66? 7:D96C>6? @A6C2E:?8 :? E92E AC@I:>:EJ E@ 6249 @E96C[ :? E92E 568C66 @7 4@?46?EC2E:@?[Q D2:5 !2C<6C[ ?@H 2? tIA6CE pDD@4:2E6 2E E96 }2E:@?2= $64FC:EJ r@==686 @7 E96 pFDEC2=:2? }2E:@?2= &?:G6CD:EJ]k^Am
kAmQ%96JVC6 567:?:E6=J ?@E 7:D9:?8]QÂ k^Am
kAmv=@32= u:D9:?8 (2E49 49:67 D4:6?E:DE s2G:5 zC@@5D>2 D2:5 E96 r9:?6D6 7:D9:?8 7=66E H2D Q9:89=J 4@@C5:?2E65Q 2?5 :E H2D A@DD:3=6 E92E E96 G6DD6=D H6C6 @C56C65 ?@E E@ 7:D9 :? 2 46CE2:? 2C62]k^Am
kAmQ|@DE @7 E96 E:>6 H96? J@F D66 =:?6D @7 3@2ED[ :EVD 3642FD6 E96JVC6 C:89E FA 282:?DE D@>6 3@F?52CJ H96C6 E96JVC6 ?@E 2==@H65 E@ 36] x? E9:D C68:@? E92EVD H92E J@F D66 >@DE @7 E96 E:>6[Q zC@@5D>2 D2:5]k^Am
kAmQx7 J@F =@@< 24C@DD E96 J62C[ J@F D66 >2?J[ >2?J 6I2>A=6D @7 H96? E96C6VD 4=62C=J 2 =:?6 E92E E96JVC6 ?@E DFAA@D65 E@ 7:D9 24C@DD 2E 5:776C6?E E:>6 A6C:@5D] (6 5@?VE <?@H H9J]Qk^Am
k9am\ V$E2E6 @A6C2E:@?V \Â k^9am
kAmpu!VD C6A@CE:?8 7@C E9:D DE@CJ :?G@=G65 E96 2?2=JD:D @7 px$ 52E2 2?5 ?:89EE:>6 D2E6==:E6 :>286CJ[ 2?5 :?E6CG:6HD H:E9 6IA6CED 7C@> :?86?:$!prt[ $E2C3@2C5 |2C:E:>6 x?E6==:86?46[ r$x$ 2?5 v=@32= u:D9:?8 (2E49[ H9@ 2=D@ @3D6CG65 E96 s646>36C 2?5 y2?F2CJ 7@C>2E:@?D]Â k^Am
kAm&?D66?=23D[ 2 uC6?49 4@>A2?J DA64:2=:D:?8 :? >2C:E:>6 DFCG6:==2?46[ G6C:7:65 E96 s646>36C ad 52E2 7@C pu![ 56D4C:3:?8 E96 4@?46?EC2E:@? @7 G6DD6=D 2D QDFCAC:D:?8 2?5 F?FDF2=Q]k^Am
kAm%96 6IA6CED H6C6 4@?7:56?E E92E E96 >2;@C:EJ @7 E96 G6DD6=D H6C6 C62= 2?5 ?@E DA@@765[ H9:49 :D H96? px$ 52E2 :D >2?:AF=2E65 E@ 8:G6 >:D=625:?8 :?7@C>2E:@? 23@FE 2 G6DD6=VD =@42E:@? @C :56?E:EJ]k^Am
kAmQ(6VG6 925 6?@F89 @E96C 4@CC@3@C2E:?8 52E2]]] E@ 4@?7:C> E92E E9@D6 G6DD6=D H6C6 4=62C=J @FE E96C6[Q !@=:?8 D2:5]k^Am
kAmpD A2CE @7 9:D 677@CED E@ G6C:7J E96 52E2[ |2C< s@F8=2D[ 2 7@C>6C }6H +62=2?5 ?2G2= @77:46C 2?5 ?@H 2 >2C:E:>6 5@>2:? 2?2=JDE 2E $E2C3@2C5[ D2:5 96 6I2>:?65 7:D9:?8 A2EE6C?D :? E96 D2>6 2C62 @G6C E96 AC6G:@FD EH@ J62CD]k^Am
kAmQpE ?@ E:>6 92D E96 3692G:@FC 366? E96 D2>6 2D E9:D[Q s@F8=2D D2:5] QsFC:?8 @E96C A6C:@5D @7 25G6CD6 H62E96C E96 G6DD6=D C6EFC?65 E@ A@CE[ C2E96C E92? >2DD:?8 @77D9@C6 :? E96D6 <:?5D @7 7@C>2E:@?D]Qk^Am
kAmQx 42?VE DA62< E@ E96 H9J]]] 3FE E96 9@H 46CE2:?=J D66>D E@ 36 E92E E96C6 H2D 5:C64E:@? AC@G:565 E@ E96D6 G6DD6=D E92E E9:D :D H92E E96J ?66565 E@ 5@[Q s@F8=2D D2:5]k^Am
kAm%96 ?F>36C @7 G6DD6=D :?G@=G65 :?5:42E65 2 QDE2E6 @A6C2E:@?Q[ D2:5 %9@>2D $9F82CE[ 2 7@C>6C &$ }2GJ DF3>2C:?6 H2C72C6 @77:46C 2?5 ?@H 2? p5;F?4E $6?:@C u6==@H H:E9 E96 s676?D6 !C@8C2> 2E E96 r6?E6C 7@C 2 }6H p>6C:42? $64FC:EJ]k^Am
kAmQ%96C6VD ?@ 4@>>6C4:2= 6?E:EJ E92E 4@?EC@=D E92E >2?J 7:D9:?8 3@2ED E92E x <?@H @7[Q $9F82CE D2:5]Â k^Am
k9am\ V|2C:E:>6 >:=:E:2V \Â k^9am
kAmr9:?2VD ?2GJ C2?<D ?F>36C @?6 :? E96 H@C=5 :? E6C>D @7 E96 ?F>36C @7 H2CD9:AD 2?5 DF3>2C:?6D @? E96 v=@32= u:C6A@H6C =:DE]k^Am
kAmq6:;:?8 :D 2=D@ E2AA:?8 :ED 9F86 4:G:=:2? 7=66E[ :?4=F5:?8 7:D9:?8 3@2ED[ 76CC:6D 2?5 42C8@ D9:AD[ 2D A2CE @7 :ED AC6A2C2E:@?D 7@C 2 C68:@?2= 4C:D:D @C 4@?7=:4E[ :?4=F5:?8 @G6C %2:H2?[ 6IA6CED D2J]Â k^Am
kAmr9:?2 92D E9C62E6?65 E@ FD6 7@C46[ :7 ?646DD2CJ[ E@ D6:K6 %2:H2?[ H9:49 :E 4=2:>D :D A2CE @7 :ED E6CC:E@CJ[ 2?5 &$ @77:4:2=D 92G6 7=28865 a_af 2D 2 A@DD:3=6 E:>6=:?6 7@C 2? 2EE24<]k^Am
kAmx? :ED a_ad C6A@CE E@ r@?8C6DD @? r9:?2VD >:=:E2CJ A@H6C[ E96 &$ s6A2CE>6?E @7 s676?D6 D2:5i Q %96 !{p 4@?E:?F6D E@ >2<6 DE625J AC@8C6DD E@H2C5 :ED a_af 8@2=DQ 2?5 Qr9:?2 6IA64ED E@ 36 23=6 E@ 7:89E 2?5 H:? 2 H2C @? %2:H2?Q 3J E96 6?5 @7 E92E J62C]Â k^Am
kAmq6:;:?8 92D DE6AA65 FA >:=:E2CJ AC6DDFC6 @? %2:H2? :? C646?E J62CD[ 56A=@J:?8 7:89E6C ;6ED 2?5 H2CD9:AD 2C@F?5 E96 :D=2?5 @? 2? 2=>@DE 52:=J 32D:D]k^Am
kAmr9:?2 92D 2=D@ 96=5 >F=E:A=6 =2C86\D42=6 6I6C4:D6D 2C@F?5 %2:H2? E92E 2C6 @7E6? 56D4C:365 2D C6962CD2=D 7@C 2 3=@4<256 2?5 D6:KFC6 @7 E96 E6CC:E@CJ]k^Am
kAmr:G:=:2? G6DD6=D H6C6 Q23D@=FE6=J 46?EC2=Q E@ r9:?6D6 >:=:E2CJ A=2??:?8 7@C 2? @A6C2E:@? 282:?DE %2:H2?[ D2:5 $9F82CE]k^Am
kAmr9:?2VD ?2GJ 5@6D ?@E 92G6 6?@F89 =2?5:?8 G6DD6=D E@ 56=:G6C E96 EC@@AD 2?5 6BF:A>6?E :E H@F=5 ?665 E@ >2<6 2? :?G2D:@? @7 %2:H2? 762D:3=6]k^Am
kAmQx? E96 23D6?46 @7 E92E 5F2=\AFCA@D6[ 4:G:=\>:=:E2CJ >2C:E:>6 >2DD[ x 5@?VE E9:?< E96J 42? :?G256 %2:H2?[Q $9F82CE D2:5] Q(:E9 E92E[ W:EX EFC?D :?E@ 2 V>2J36 E96J 42?V]Qk^Am
kAm|2?J @7 E96 7:D9:?8 3@2ED :?G@=G65 :? E96 s646>36C 2?5 y2?F2CJ >2DD:?8 6G6?ED H6C6 =:<6=J A2CE @7 r9:?2VD >2C:E:>6 >:=:E:2[ D@>6 6IA6CED D2:5]k^Am
kAm%96 >2C:E:>6 >:=:E:2 :D >256 FA @7 7:D9:?8 3@2ED EC2:?65 E@ DFAA@CE E96 >:=:E2CJ 2?5 E96 7=66E 92D 366? FD65 E@ 2DD6CE r9:?2VD E6CC:E@C:2= 4=2:>D[ :?4=F5:?8 :? E96 $@FE9 r9:?2 $62 H96C6 E96J 92G6 DH2C>65 4@?E6DE65 C667D]k^Am
kAmpx$ 52E2 D9@H65 E96 QG2DE >2;@C:EJQ @7 G6DD6=D 4@?8C682E:?8 :? E96 t2DE r9:?2 $62 2AA62C65 E@ 36 7C@> E96 62DE6C? AC@G:?46 @7 +96;:2?8[ H96C6 D6G6C2= >2C:E:>6 >:=:E:2 A@CED 2C6 =@42E65[ D2:5 !@=:?8]Â k^Am
kAmQ{:<6 >:=:E:2 @? =2?5 :? r9:?2[ E96J 86E 42==65 FA 7C@> E:>6 E@ E:>6 7@C C6D6CG6 D6CG:46[Q !@=:?8 D2:5]k^Am
kAmQ|J 8F6DD :D E92E E9:D H2D 2? 677@CE E@ ;FDE D66 :7 E96 >:=:E:2 4@F=5 >FDE6C] %96D6 2C6 4:G:=:2?D[ E96D6 2C6 ?@E E96 AC@76DD:@?2= >:=:E:2 :? E96 $@FE9 r9:?2 $62[ E96JVC6 7:D96C>6?[Q 96 D2:5]k^Am
kAm|2C:E:>6 >:=:E:2 H@F=5 92G6 2 QC2?86 @7 C@=6DQ :? 2 >:=:E2CJ @A6C2E:@?[ D2:5 !2C<6C[ DF49 2D 92C2DD:?8 H2CD9:AD @C 24E:?8 2D 564@JD 7@C >:DD:=6D 7:C65 3J @AA@D:?8 7@C46D[ E9@F89 D96 ?@E65 E96:C AC6D6?46 4@F=5 2=D@ :?E6C76C6 H:E9 r9:?2VD @H? 23:=:EJ E@ 9:E E2C86ED]k^Am
kAmQxEVD 4=62C E92E r9:?2VD @A6C2E:@?D A=2??:?8 :? E96 $@FE9 r9:?2 $62 2?5 2C@F?5 %2:H2? :?4=F56 E96 >2C:E:>6 >:=:E:2 2D 2 7@C46 >F=E:A=:6C[Q D96 D2:5]Â k^Am
kAmQxEVD C62D@?23=6 E@ 2DDF>6 E92E E9:D H@F=5 2=D@ 36 E96 42D6 :? E96 6G6?E @7 2 >:=:E2CJ 4C:D:D H:E9 y2A2?]Qk^Am
k9am\ %9C62ED @7 C6E2=:2E:@? \Â Â k^9am
kAm%96 >2C:E:>6 >:=:E:2VD C@=6 :? E96 $@FE9 r9:?2 $62 92D 6IA2?565 36J@?5 DH2C>:?8 C667D E@ 96=A:?8 E96 r9:?6D6 4@2DE8F2C5 :? Q3=@4<:?8 2?5 92C2DD:?8Q !9:=:AA:?6 7:D9:?8 3@2ED 2?5 6G6? FD:?8 H2E6C 42??@? 282:?DE u:=:A:?@ 7:D96C>6?[ !9:=:AA:?6 r@2DE vF2C5 DA@<6D>2? y2J %2CC:6=2 D2:5]k^Am
kAmQ%96J 5@?VE 92G6 4@G6CE C@=6D 2?J>@C6[Q %2CC:6=2 D2:5]k^Am
kAmQ%96JVC6 24EF2==J A2CE @7 E96 Wr9:?6D6X 8@G6C?>6?E[ 2 7=@E:==2[ 25G2?4:?8 E96:C :==682= :?E6C6DED :? E96 $@FE9 r9:?2 $62]Q Â k^Am
kAmq6:;:?8 92D ?@E AF3=:4=J 4@>>6?E65 @? E96 7:D9:?8 3@2E 7@C>2E:@?D :? E96 t2DE r9:?2 $62]k^Am
kAmy2A2?VD 4@2DE 8F2C5 564=:?65 E@ 4@>>6?E H96? 4@?E24E65 3J pu!] %@<J@ :D :?G@=G65 :? 2 566A6?:?8 DA2E H:E9 q6:;:?8 27E6C !C:>6 |:?:DE6C $2?26 %2<2:49: DF886DE65 E92E y2A2? H@F=5 :?E6CG6?6 >:=:E2C:=J :7 r9:?2 D@F89E E@ E2<6 %2:H2? 3J 7@C46]k^Am
kAm#6DA@?5:?8 E@ r9:?2VD 8C6J K@?6 24E:G:E:6D \\ 4@6C4:G6 24E:@?D E92E 72== D9@CE @7 2? 24E @7 H2C \\ @C >:=:E2CJ @A6C2E:@?D :? E96 C68:@? :D QC62==J 92C5Q[ 2 5:A=@>2E E@=5 pu! @? E96 4@?5:E:@? @7 2?@?J>:EJ]Â k^Am
kAmQr9:?2 @7E6? E9C62E6?D @C :>A=:6D C6E2=:2E:@? \\ H92E :D @7E6? F?4=62C[Q E96 5:A=@>2E D2:5]k^Am
kAmtIA6CED D2:5 E96 7:D9:?8 3@2E >2?@6FGC6D H6C6 4@?D:DE6?E H:E9 r9:?6D6 !C6D:56?E ): y:?A:?8VD @G6C2== 2:> @7 AC6A2C:?8 E96 >:=:E2CJ D@ :E 4@F=5 A@E6?E:2==J D6:K6 %2:H2?]k^Am
kAmQx 42?VE E6== J@F :7 ): y:?A:?8VD 8@:?8 E@ 564:56 E@ AF== E96 EC:886C @C ?@E[Q D2:5 $9F82CE]k^Am
kAmQqFE 2D 2? 2?2=JDE[ :E DFC6 =@@<D =:<6 E96 !{p :D[ 2D 5:C64E65[ 56G6=@A:?8 E96 42A23:=:E:6D C6BF:C65 E@ 4C65:3=J E9C62E6? 2? :?G2D:@? :? a_af]Qk^Am
kAm3FCD\2>;^9>?^;>k^Am
