China’s aggressive military reorganization prompts fears of conflict

Beijing is employing its military in new ways under the leadership of Xi Jinping, who has consolidated his power.

A little noticed organizational change in China’s maritime patrols is causing increasing anxiety among Western military officials and their allies in the region, who fear Beijing is seeking new leverage to advance its goals and raising the likelihood that an accidental encounter could escalate into conflict.

The U.S. confirmed earlier this year that China has reorganized its coast guard to serve as a military branch rather than answer to law enforcement authorities. Militarizing the formerly civilian organization provides China with the firepower to harass and intimidate vessels from other countries who dispute China’s claims to waterways. The change, which Beijing denies, signals not only that China wishes to further its ambitions for its neighborhood, including seizing contested disputed territory and access to natural resources in East and South China seas but that it is becoming a more potent foe internationally.

“China still remains very adventurous, and [it is] expanding its actions into the East China Sea and South China Sea,” a senior Japanese government official told U.S. News on the condition of anonymity. “We are still carefully studying the changes of the Chinese coast guard status.”

The reorganization comes as Chinese President Xi Jinping has consolidated his power and positioned himself as the singular head of that chain of command. China has also begun mirroring how the U.S. military organizes itself through what it calls “joint operations” – or service branches working together in exercises or military activities – making it more effective across a broader swathe of regions and missions.