Vietnam is building up its maritime militia in the South China Sea in an apparent challenge to Chinese efforts to dominate the disputed waterway, according to a Chinese military magazine. Both Beijing and Hanoi have a long history of maritime militia and proficiency in mobilising fishermen and their boats in activities to assert claims in the South China Sea. “For China especially, the maritime militia was the precursor to the modern PLA Navy,” said Dr. Collin Koh, a Research Fellow from RSIS.