China Urged to Prepare Civilian Ships for Wartime Use

China should accelerate plans to integrate civilian vessels into its wartime operations, adopting lessons from Britain's successful mobilization of commercial ships during the 1982 Falklands conflict. This recommendation comes from Li Jin, a defense researcher at the National Development and Reform Commission, China's top economic planning agency.

In an article published in "Defense Industry Conversion in China," Li Jin argues that as China's national security interests expand into the maritime domain, the need for civilian ship mobilization to support military operations is becoming increasingly critical. This is particularly relevant amid growing maritime security threats and intensifying great-power competition.

Drawing on Britain's experience, Li Jin highlighted the importance of several key factors: a large pool of available civilian vessels, well-defined mobilization plans, ships designed with defense requirements in mind, and robust compensation and incentive mechanisms for ship owners. During the Falklands War, Britain rapidly mobilized dozens of civilian ships to transport aircraft, fuel, and supplies, and to perform essential support and medical missions.

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As China’s national security and development interests continue to extend into the maritime domain, the growing demands for maritime rights protection and military operations have increasingly highlighted the critical role of civilian ship mobilisation.

To bolster its own capabilities, the article suggests China should conduct a thorough survey of its extensive civilian fleet. This would involve establishing a comprehensive database detailing each vessel's speed, carrying capacity, ownership, and crew qualifications. Special attention should be paid to vessels with inherent military potential, such as oil tankers and semi-submersibles.

Furthermore, China needs to develop detailed plans covering command and communication structures, protocols for responding to unexpected situations, and clear criteria for which vessels should be mobilized. By proactively preparing its civilian maritime assets for wartime use, China aims to enhance its logistical support and operational flexibility in an increasingly complex geopolitical landscape.

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Britain’s experience in the Falklands showed the importance of having a large pool of civilian vessels, detailed mobilisation plans, ships designed with defence requirements in mind and effective compensation and incentive measures.