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China urged to speed up plans to mobilize civilian ships for wartime
A defense researcher at China’s National Development and Reform Commission cited Britain’s 1982 Falklands experience, saying China should build a database of civilian vessels and set compensation, incentive, and mobilization plans.
China should accelerate plans to commandeer civilian ships for wartime operations, drawing lessons from Britain’s use of commercial vessels during the 1982 Falklands conflict, according to research described by the South China Morning Post.
The outlet said Li Jin, a researcher at the Research Centre for Coordinated Economic and National Defence Development at the National Development and Reform Commission, argued that expanding maritime security needs and great power competition have increased the role of civilian ship mobilization for military support.
The article said Britain mobilized dozens of civilian vessels within days of the war’s outbreak, using them to transport aircraft, fuel, and other supplies, and to carry out medical and support missions.
It also called for China to survey its civilian fleets to create a comprehensive database covering vessel speed, carrying capacity, ownership, and crew qualifications, with plans for command and communications, responses to unexpected situations, and which ships to mobilize.