The link between China’s fishing fleet and its naval presence is evident in the expansion of PLAN bases and dual-use ports across the Indian Ocean.
PANAJI, GOA: Fishing vessels should not be a national security concern. Yet, the increasing presence of China’s massive distant-water fishing fleet in the Indian Ocean is more than an economic issue—it is a geopolitical manoeuvre. This fleet, operating under the guise of commercial activity, serves a dual purpose: depleting fish stocks while expanding Beijing’s maritime footprint. India, the primary regional power in the Indian Ocean, finds itself at the frontline of this encroachment. While violations of territorial waters and overfishing by foreign vessels are not new, China’s state-backed fishing operations represent something more insidious—a silent invasion.
Unlike other fishing nations, China has actively blurred the lines between economic enterprise and state ambition. Its distant-water fishing fleet, the largest in the world with over 17,000 vessels, has expanded into the Indian Ocean at an alarming rate. These vessels do not merely seek fish; they establish a persistent maritime presence that challenges regional sovereignty and pushes the boundaries of international law. Under the cover of distant-water fishing, China’s People’s Armed Forces Maritime Militia (PAFMM) operates in tandem with the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) and the China Coast Guard. While the world’s attention has largely focused on China’s maritime aggression in the South China Sea, the IOR is emerging as its next frontier.
ECONOMIC PREDATION DISGUISED AS FISHING
At the heart of the issue lies an economic problem masquerading as a security challenge. China’s distant-water fishing fleets are heavily subsidized by the government, allowing them to operate in international and foreign waters at minimal cost. While India, Sri Lanka, and smaller coastal economies in the region rely on fishing as a primary livelihood, the Chinese model of industrialized extraction disregards sustainability. Overfishing depletes resources at an unsustainable pace, leaving local fishermen with dwindling stocks.
Reports from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and Indian fisheries authorities highlight that tuna, shrimp, and other commercially valuable species are rapidly declining due to excessive fishing. The Indian Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry, and Dairying notes that while India contributes 3.5% to global marine fish production, domestic stocks are under immense strain. The influx of foreign, and particularly Chinese, vessels has only exacerbated this crisis.
The economic implications go beyond depleting fish stocks. The disruption caused by China’s industrialized fishing operations extends to Indian export markets, where illegally caught fish floods international supply chains at lower prices. Indian fishermen, who operate under stricter regulations, find themselves at a disadvantage. The problem is particularly pronounced in India’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), where Chinese vessels have been detected engaging in illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing activities.
EXPLOITING LEGAL LOOPHOLES IN THE HIGH SEAS
China’s fishing fleet does not merely deplete resources; it does so while exploiting ambiguities in international maritime law. Under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), coastal states have sovereign rights over marine resources within their 200-nautical-mile EEZ. Yet China routinely flouts these regulations, often operating without permission in foreign waters while manipulating tracking systems to evade detection.
A growing number of cases suggest that Chinese vessels deliberately switch off their Automatic Identification System (AIS) transponders, making it difficult for authorities to track their movements. Indian Coast Guard reports reveal multiple instances of “silent anomalies”, periods of radio silence where vessels operate undetected within Indian waters. These are not isolated incidents. Satellite tracking data shows that fleets cluster along the edges of maritime boundaries, moving deeper into EEZs under the cover of night.
Even when caught, enforcement remains a challenge. China routinely employs “flags of convenience”, registering its vessels under foreign nations such as Panama and Seychelles to obscure state involvement. This strategy makes direct legal action difficult, as it shields Beijing from diplomatic accountability. China has also demonstrated a consistent disregard for international rulings on maritime disputes. Its outright rejection of the 2016 Permanent Court of Arbitration ruling on the South China Sea sets a dangerous precedent—one that threatens to undermine UNCLOS as a functional maritime legal framework.
FROM ECONOMIC EXPLOITATION TO STRATEGIC EXPANSION
If the economic and environmental damages inflicted by China’s fishing fleet were the only concern, the problem might be mitigated through tougher regulation. However, Beijing’s distant-water fishing strategy is also a geopolitical instrument, designed to expand its naval footprint under the cover of civilian activity.
The People’s Armed Forces Maritime Militia (PAFMM), which operates within the fishing fleet, is not an informal group of fishermen. It is a state-backed, organized force trained to conduct intelligence gathering, surveillance, and enforcement of maritime claims. This hybrid model, a core part of China’s grey-zone warfare tactics, allows the PLAN to extend its influence into contested waters without direct military engagement.
The link between China’s fishing fleet and its naval presence is evident in the expansion of PLAN bases and dual-use ports across the Indian Ocean. The acquisition of Gwadar in Pakistan, Hambantota in Sri Lanka, and Djibouti in East Africa provides strategic docking facilities where Chinese vessels can refuel and receive logistical support. These ports, while ostensibly commercial, offer China a long-term foothold in the region, placing India’s maritime security under growing pressure.
INDIA’S RESPONSE: TIME FOR A PROACTIVE MARITIME STRATEGY
India has traditionally viewed itself as the dominant maritime power in the Indian Ocean, but the rapid expansion of China’s fishing fleet and its military implications, demand a more assertive response. To counter this challenge, India must adopt a multi-layered strategy that integrates maritime surveillance, regional partnerships, and legal countermeasures.
First, India must enhance its surveillance capabilities. The Indian Navy and Coast Guard should increase aerial reconnaissance using P-8I aircraft and UAVs, expanding real-time tracking of IUU fishing vessels. Satellite monitoring must be strengthened to detect “dark fleets” operating without transponders. Improved coordination between ICG patrols and naval assets will be critical in intercepting illegal incursions before they escalate.
Second, regional cooperation is key. India should expand joint patrols with Quad members (the U.S., Japan, and Australia), integrating efforts to curb IUU fishing in the Indo-Pacific. Strengthening maritime coordination with ASEAN nations, particularly Indonesia, Thailand, and Vietnam, will help form a united front against China’s aggressive tactics.
Beyond military deterrence, legal countermeasures must be reinforced. India must push for tougher penalties for IUU violations, including the seizure and auction of foreign vessels engaged in illegal fishing. Moreover, India should leverage WTO mechanisms to challenge China’s unfair fishing subsidies, which distort global markets. The Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) could serve as a diplomatic platform to build consensus against China’s unchecked maritime expansion.
Finally, India must develop its own distant-water fishing fleet. Unlike China, India does not heavily subsidize its fishing industry. Expanding India’s fishing capabilities through government-backed incentives and international fishing partnerships will serve as a counterweight to China’s dominance in global fisheries.
INDIAN OCEAN CANNOT BECOME ANOTHER SOUTH CHINA SEA
The unchecked expansion of China’s fishing fleet is more than an environmental crisis—it is a geopolitical test of India’s resolve in the Indian Ocean. Beijing has weaponised its fishing industry
The silent invasion has begun. If India and its regional partners do not counter China’s fishing fleet with decisive measures, the Indian Ocean risks becoming another South China Sea—where sovereignty is eroded, maritime law is ignored, and power belongs to those who enforce it, not those who claim it.
* Commodore (Dr) Johnson Odakkal is an Indian Navy Veteran and Adjunct Research Faculty (Strategic & Security Studies) at Naval War College, Goa.