China's 'Gray Zone' Tactics Escalate Tensions in South China Sea

Introduction: The Rise of 'Gray Zone' Operations

China is consistently employing what are termed 'gray zone tactics' in the South China Sea, a strategy designed to assert its control over vast maritime areas and normalize its territorial claims without triggering overt military conflict. These actions have generated considerable concern among neighboring nations and the broader international community, impacting regional stability and challenging established international maritime law.

The Nature of China's 'Gray Zone' Operations

Gray zone tactics are defined as coercive activities that remain below the threshold of armed conflict, often exploiting legal ambiguities, power imbalances, and narrative uncertainties. China's approach in the South China Sea involves a multi-faceted strategy utilizing both state and ostensibly non-state actors. Key components of these tactics include:

• Maritime Militia: This 'shadowy armada' consists of fishing vessels, many of which are militarized, used to assert Chinese claims, counter foreign vessels, and even seize disputed territory. In 2022, satellite imagery indicated that over 100 militia vessels operated daily in the South China Sea, with numbers peaking at approximately 400 in July of that year. Reports from 2024 show record numbers of militia ships, often anchored at China's military outposts rather than engaging in fishing activities, suggesting a shift in their operational patterns. Incidents attributed to the maritime militia include pointing high-powered lasers at aircraft, such as a Royal Australian Navy helicopter. In June 2025, a Chinese maritime militia vessel reportedly ran aground near Pag-asa Island in the West Philippine Sea, causing damage to 307 square meters of coral.
• Coast Guard Operations: China's Coast Guard vessels are frequently deployed for law enforcement, harassment, and to assert sovereignty. These operations have included ramming, using water cannons, and deploying lasers and acoustic devices against vessels from other claimant states, particularly those of the Philippines. Filipino fishing vessels have also reported harassment by Chinese ships.
• Artificial Island Building: China has undertaken extensive land reclamation efforts, constructing ports, military installations, and airstrips on features in the disputed Paracel and Spratly Islands. By 2023, China had reclaimed approximately five square miles through these artificial island constructions.

Contested Claims and International Legal Frameworks

China's expansive claims in the South China Sea are primarily delineated by its 'nine-dash line,' which encompasses the majority of the sea and is asserted based on historical rights. These claims significantly overlap with the Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZs) of several Southeast Asian nations, including Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan, and Vietnam.

While China ratified the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), it maintains that its sovereignty claims, rooted in historical rights, are not subject to UNCLOS adjudication. This stance directly conflicts with a landmark ruling by the Permanent Court of Arbitration in 2016. The tribunal, in a case brought by the Philippines, ruled that China's nine-dash line claims had no lawful effect and violated UNCLOS. China, however, rejected this ruling, stating it would not accept or recognize it.

Regional and International Responses

The persistent application of gray zone tactics has elicited strong reactions from regional states and international powers. The Philippines has been particularly vocal in challenging China's actions, especially around the Second Thomas Shoal and Scarborough Shoal, and was the nation that initiated the 2016 arbitration case. Vietnam also maintains its sovereignty claims over the Spratly and Paracel archipelagos, despite facing incidents such as cable severing and vessel collisions with Chinese entities. Other claimants like Malaysia, Brunei, Indonesia, and Taiwan also have overlapping claims in the region.

The United States has consistently affirmed its commitment to freedom of navigation and overflight in the South China Sea, conducting regular Freedom of Navigation Operations (FONOPs) to challenge what it views as excessive maritime claims. The U.S. rejects China's claims beyond what is permissible under international law and maintains a defense treaty with Manila. Some U.S. officials interpret China's actions as a strategic effort to diminish American influence in Asia.

Conclusion

China's continued use of gray zone tactics in the South China Sea represents an ongoing challenge to regional stability and the international rules-based order. By employing a range of non-military and quasi-military measures, China seeks to solidify its territorial claims and expand its influence, leading to heightened tensions and diplomatic standoffs with its neighbors and other global powers. The situation underscores the complex interplay of historical claims, economic interests, and international law in one of the world's most strategically vital waterways.