A larger navy cannot make another state's warship leave international waters simply by being stronger. Firing on it or deliberately colliding with it creates a much more serious escalation problem. This helps explain the use of coast-guard vessels and fishing fleets for coercive encounters in the South China Sea. The comparison with Indian-Chinese confrontations using sticks and stones concerns efforts to keep violence below a threshold associated with open warfare. Diplomacy then has to contain the consequences when those limits are tested.
Notable Point · 4:01:43-4:03:08
Why maritime coercion often uses coast guards and fishing vessels
The choice of vessel or weapon can help governments apply pressure while trying to contain escalation.