China Faces Pushback After Adoption of Controversial Coast Guard Law

Radio Free Asia

22 February 2021

A new law which authorises the China Coast Guard (CCG) to use force in the South China Sea is drawing growing international criticism and some apparent pushback at sea from another claimant. Ship-tracking data show that twice this month, Malaysia’s navy and coastguard have sailed close to a CCG vessel that has been lingering at the Malaysian-claimed Luconia Shoals since mid-January. “The Malaysians are certainly not lying down and get rolled over. They’re at least trying to maintain a counter-presence against China in the disputed area, cognizant of their own capacity and capability shortfalls,” said Dr Collin Koh, a Research Fellow at the RSIS. “And of course, with the new Coast Guard Law promulgated by Beijing, we can expect the Malaysians to try to keep up what they can put up to challenge the CCG presence,” Koh told Radio Free Asia.

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