China’s Strategic Use of Commercial Ships to Pressure Taiwan

On one day in December last year, 2,000 Chinese fishing vessels gathered north of Taiwan in a unique formation, a tactic repeated with over 1,200 vessels in January. Analysts highlight China’s use of commercial shipping as a tool of coercion, with a former US Navy officer noting the ability to create congestion without declaring a blockade. This approach aims to leverage a “shadow fleet” to apply pressure on Taiwan, signaling a shift from traditional military tactics to more covert methods. China’s strategy involves the mass deployment of ordinary vessels to influence the geopolitical landscape. A leaked Pentagon report raised concerns…