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Beijing to deploy live fish carrier to the South China Sea
A PLA's lookout near Mischief Reef. (Internet photo)
China is planning to deploy a live fish carrier to Mischief Reef, one of the disputed Spratly Islands, according to Beijing-based China Science Daily.
The news comes just months after China removed the Haiyang Shiyou 981 oil platform from disputed waters near the disputed Paracel islands, which had led to widespread protests and anti-Chinese sentiment in Vietnam.
Mischief Reef is claimed by Taiwan, China, the Philippines and Vietnam, although it is currently under Chinese administration. Likely in an attempt to solidify their control over the region, Beijing is planning to deploy a 200,000-ton live fish carrier to the waters around the reef. The paper stated that it is time for China to pay more attention to the natural resources beneath the South China Sea.
Lei Jilin, a researcher from Yellow Sea Fisheries Research Institute of the Chinese Academy of Fishery Science told the paper that defending the nation's borders is not the only mission for the Chinese leadership. He said that it is necessary for them to know how to exploit the natural resources properly. The Chinese Academy of Fishery Science plans to purchase a 200,000-ton oil tanker and modify it into a live fish carrier.
This live fish carrier can be a mobile production base for China in the South China Sea. It can be used as a fish farm while providing multiple services to the Chinese military and civilian vessels operating in the region. If the plan at Mischief Reef proves a success, Lei suggested that China deploy a fleet of live fish carriers to the East and South China Seas in the future under the protection of the People's Liberation Army Navy.
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