America Must Confront China’s ‘Gray Zone’ Tactics At Sea

PAUL’S DEFENSE BRIEF (PDB) – China’s persistent use of maritime gray zone tactics, designed to achieve strategic aims without crossing the threshold of war, poses a fundamental challenge to U.S. regional interests. Using ambiguity and indirect coercion, China seeks to “advance without attacking,” shaping a favorable strategic environment under the guise of civilian activity.

China executes these strategies through its Military-Civil Fusion strategy, blurring the line between civilian and military roles.

Exploiting dual-use commercial assets: China deploys assets like oil and gas exploration platforms deep within the Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZ) of its neighbors. These “civilian” platforms are capable of being equipped with various sensors (surface search radar, optical, SIGINT, acoustic devices) to enhance surveillance or even fitted with weapons systems.

Weaponizing civilian shipping: China utilizes large Roll-on/Roll-off (RO-RO) ferries, built to military standards, as key civilian vessels. These vessels can rapidly convert to military transport, filling gaps in the People’s Liberation Army’s (PLA) amphibious transport capability.

Deceptive maritime militia activity: China uses fishing vessels to conduct illicit activities (such as hydrographic surveys and battlefield preparation) under the cover of fishing.

Layered coercive presence: In contested areas like the Scarborough Shoal, China employs a tiered force structure to maintain control and reduce the risk of military escalation. It positions maritime militia and civilian public service vessels as the first line of contact, the China Coast Guard as the second line, and the PLA’s naval and air forces as the third line.

FOR YOUR EYES ONLY – Here’s a roundup of today’s other top defense news from conservative national security expert PAUL CRESPO.

Not the President’s Daily Brief, but almost as good – PAUL’S DEFENSE BRIEFING – the PDB:    

NATIONAL SECURITY

U.S. nuclear arsenal currently safe, reliable. Trump administration’s nominee to head Strategic Command, says that he is “absolutely confident” in the reliability of the nation’s nuclear arsenal — a fact that STRATCOM last certified in January.

Kremlin responds to Trump’s vow to resume nuclear testing after Russia flaunted its nuke-powered Poseidon torpedo, saying that if the U.S. resume nuclear weapons testing it will do so too.

Experts explain how reviving nuclear weapons tests would actually happen. President Trump “instructed the Department of War to start testing our Nuclear Weapons on an equal basis. That process will begin immediately.”

Defense contractors are preparing to pour billions of dollars into Trump’s signature Golden Dome missile-defense initiative even though they have received scant details about the program’s technical requirements and architecture.

Comply or collapse: Why President Trump’s Golden Dome for America depends on securing operational technology.

HOMELAND SECURITY

Trump caps refugee admissions at record low – with most to be white South Africans.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has ordered the military to provide dozens of lawyers to the DOJ for temporary assignments in Memphis and near the U.S.-Mexico border that could run through next fall.

Ex U.S. Army sergeant sentenced to four years in prison for trying to share military secrets with China.

DHS is offering grants to states, local governments for counter-drone tech ahead of major national events.

DEFENSE POLITICS

Navy replaced the admiral in charge of the Office of Naval Research with a civilian career consultant who also reportedly worked with DOGE.

A three-star Army general in a key position on the Joint Chiefs of Staff is retiring after less than 18 months on the job, the latest senior officer to leave the Pentagon position early amid reports of disagreements with Hegseth.

Pentagon is making another push to slim its civilian workforce, this time by directing managers to fire employees for “unacceptable performance” while continuing to encourage civilians to leave voluntarily.

White House’s pick to field new technologies across the military faster says most U.S. companies want to sell to the Pentagon, but they don’t understand what the military needs.

Trump administration intends to use about $5.3 billion in Pentagon spending to cover troops’ pay and housing allowance during the government shutdown, with $2.8 billion of that sum being redirected from Navy shipbuilding accounts and department wide research and development programs.

US POWER OVERSEAS

PACFLEET is rushing to create new capabilities, operating concepts. Speed. Persistence. Capabilities “designed and built to enable operations inside the weapons engagement zone.” The commander of the U.S. Pacific Fleet wants it all. And he wants it now.

U.S. forces are committed to maintaining a presence in Estonia, alleviating fears of a withdrawal from the Baltic nation as the Pentagon scales back troop levels elsewhere in Europe.

President Trump touted South Korea’s Hanwha’s Philly Shipyard during APEC address.

RUSSIA THREAT

Why NATO needs a new nuclear strategy. Whenever nuclear deterrence has been debated within NATO in recent years, two aspects have been the focus of attention, leaving out the most pressing issue connected to the alliance itself.

Russian IL-20 Electronic Intelligence aircraft conducted two surveillance flights around Japan in the space of a week.

NATO troops in southern Estonia shot down an unidentified drone near a military base hosting U.S. forces less than 30 miles from the Russian border.

NATO eyes robots rather than infantry as first boots on ground against Russian attack.

UN human rights commission calls Russian drone strikes in Ukraine war crimes.

Russian activity increasing around the key frontline Ukrainian town of Pokrovsk, and “the situation is difficult.”

Ukraine closed its embassy in Cuba and censured the government in Havana because the Cuban dictatorship is complicit in sending troops to fight in Russia’s war against Ukraine.

MIDDLE EAST THREATS

Hamas hands over two bodies it said were of deceased Israeli captives after Israel resumes attacks on Gaza.

Israel has confirmed the identities of two deceased hostages that it received from Hamas via the Red Cross in Gaza.

Since Israel’s war with Hamas began more than two years ago, Israel has erected nearly 1,000 barriers in cities and towns in the occupied West Bank, restricting movement for Palestinians.

Lebanon’s president says his army to confront Israeli forces after deadly Israeli incursion targeting Hezbollah.

NORTH KOREA THREAT

South Korea’s 30-year quest for nuclear-powered subs pays off with Trump’s offer of nuke tech. What comes next?

SPACE THREATS

Space Force will have the government own its satellites but rely on commercial operators to run them, a shift driven by mounting concerns over potential attacks on commercial space assets during conflicts and questions about who bears financial responsibility when satellites become targets.

INTERNATIONAL SECURITY

Germany and UK will jointly procure a new generation of rapidly deployable floating bridges.

Myanmar rebels sign ceasefire with military after China-mediated talks, easing months of intense fighting in the country’s northeast near the Chinese border.

Fear of mass murder. Sudanese civilians fleeing a paramilitary force that seized a city in the country’s Darfur region trickled into a nearby refugee camp after walking for miles, telling aid workers that roads were littered with bodies.

US MILITARY

Army’s latest effort to modernize its formations took shape on the training grounds of Hawaii last week, as soldiers tested a new “shoot and scoot” mobile 81mm mortar system designed to make units more agile in combat.

Next Abrams tank, the M1E3 is built lighter and quieter, and due next year.

Sikorsky’s optionally piloted UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter performed parachute drops, hovered on its own while sling loads were attached, and flew a simulated medical evacuation mission at the direction of an untrained individual onboard.

The multi-year deal to buy 15 nuclear submarines for the Navy that has been delayed by negotiations over ballooning costs of labor and material could be wrapped up by the end of the year.

END of PDB

The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the positions of American Liberty News.

READ NEXT: Judges Block Trump Move In Sweeping New Ruling