Philippine analysts say China’s coastguard law sets stage for armed conflict
The new legislation allows the coastguard to fire on foreign vessels in disputed waters, board and inspect ships, and demolish structures built by other countries.
www.scmp.com
As per the South China Morning Post:
According to the bill’s draft wording, the Chinese coastguard is allowed to use “all necessary means” to stop or prevent threats from foreign vessels, and specifies the circumstances under which different weapons – hand held, ship borne or airborne – can be used.
It also allows the coastguard to board and inspect foreign vessels in waters claimed by China, and to demolish structures built by other countries in disputed waters.
Yes... very rich in irony that. However while that article focused on the Philippines, it seems the Chinese Coast Guard is actually going somewhere else to be an asshole.
Chinese ships enter Japan waters for first time under new coastguard law
The Chinese vessels pointed their bows toward the Japanese fishing boats, in a move apparently aimed at approaching them.
www.scmp.com
That's right, they're entering Japanese waters near the Senkaku Islands first in the wake of passing their new law, trying to intimidate Japanese fishing boats. Unfortunately for the Chinese Coast Guard, they're still refraining from and gunning down the Japanese fishery workers (like they would North Korean ones probably) in spite of a Chinese blessed legal mandate to do so.
Also apparently the new law unsurprisingly allows them to seize foreign vessels as well in lieu of sinking them. Needless to say, neighbors are saying this violates things like 'Freedom of Navigation' and the like, while China assures everyone it's completely in accordance with international law.