Every year, Chinese fishing boats extract millions of tons of seafood from oceans far from home. Squid from the South Atlantic. Tuna from the Pacific. Catch from waters off West Africa, Latin America, and increasingly near the Arctic.
China operates the largest "distant-water" fishing fleet in history. Estimates of its size range from roughly 2,000 core vessels to more than 16,000 when militia-linked and foreign-flagged ships are included. Between 2022 and 2024, Chinese vessels accounted for about 44% of visible global fishing effort. Even the most conservative assessments place its footprint far beyond that of any competitor.
While fishing appears to be simple economic activity, it's actually sustained planned, financed, and coordinated by the Chinese government. The fleet is not just harvesting fish. It is allowing China to maintain a persistent presence across the world.
How China Built a Permanent Presence at Sea
China's decision to expand its fishing
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