China's 'monster' coast guard ship shows off its power

According to China Central Television (CCTV), the China Coast Guard (CCG) recently dispatched a group of ships to the East China Sea for a five-day intensive training, including the "monster" coast guard ship CCG-2901.

Footage released by CCTV showed at least four Chinese vessels taking part in the exercise. During the exercise, the CCG-2901 acted as a supply ship while three smaller coast guard vessels conducted refueling and material transfers at sea.

They also simulated operating conditions in harsh weather conditions, including strong winds and large waves. Observers said this was a new step forward as previously sea supply operations were mainly carried out by the Chinese navy, showing that the CCG is expanding its offshore operational capabilities.

Four Chinese coast guard vessels, including CCG-2901 in the middle, move in formation during training in the East China Sea on March 25. Photo: CCTV

According to a Pentagon report released in December 2024, China possesses the world's largest maritime law enforcement force, with more than 150 patrol vessels displacing over 1,000 tons. Among them, two giant coast guard vessels, the CCG-2901 and CCG-5901, displace up to 12,000 tons, larger than any coast guard ship in the world and three times the size of the US Legend-class coast guard ship.

In addition, China is accelerating the development of new supply ships to serve the coast guard. Last year, a Chinese shipbuilding research institute announced plans to design a “comprehensive support aircraft carrier” and an “integrated supply ship,” which would expand the CCG’s operational reach.

According to some Chinese experts, the recent training is a sign that a new generation of coast guard ships will soon be put into service.

China is expanding maritime cooperation with Russia. Last year, the CCG joined the Russian coast guard in a month-long patrol in the Arctic Ocean, covering more than 17,000 nautical miles. It remains unclear whether China will continue to send coast guard vessels out of the Western Pacific this year.

Ngoc Anh (according to CCTV, Newsweek)

Source: https://www.congluan.vn/tau-tuan-duyen-quai-vat-cua-trung-quoc-pho-truong-suc-manh-post340590.html