Axios
Intel agency says the US should consider joining South America in the fight against China’s illegal fishing
The US should consider leading a multilateral coalition with South American nations to push back against China’s illegal fishing and trade practices, a US intelligence agency has recommended in a document obtained by Axios. Why it matters: China’s illegal fishing industry is the largest in the world. Beijing has made fishing in the far waters a geopolitical priority and seen private Chinese fishing fleets as a way to expand state power far beyond its coast. Keep up to date with the latest market trends and economic insights with Axios Markets. A senior U.S. administration official has confirmed to Axios that several agencies across the government are ‘looking at this in the light of the president’s priorities, which include’ deepening cooperation with allies and partners on the challenges we face ‘ stare at our economy and national security. “What’s Happening: Large fleets of hundreds of Chinese vessels have illegally fished boats in the territorial waters of South American countries, including the Galapagos Islands. Unregulated (IUU) fishing. South American nations say this fleet is a challenge for their economic and environmental security, but their floods often do not have the means to effectively monitor and patrol their own waters.Last year, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru declared that they would join forces to defend their territorial waters against invaders. by Chinese vessels. Details: “South American countries are likely to welcome a coalition effort to increase trade pressure on China and maintain fishing standards,” officials from the Office of Intelligence and Analysis wrote in a February 5 document which is described as sensitive but unclassified. “The unilateral pressure from the United States is likely to lead to China similarly “just as Beijing did by enacting a new law to counter U.S. restrictions on technology enterprises,” said the office, an intelligence agency within the Department of Homeland Security. Several offices and agencies are working together on this effort, including the U.S. Coast Guard, the Office of Marine Intelligence, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and the State Department, according to government documents and sources. that Chinese fishing in South American waters would also “cause continued economic damage to US fisheries in the US as a result of competitive competition.” It has judged with “medium confidence” that China is likely to continue exploiting fishing practices in South American waters “despite recent actions”. by governments and an intergovernmental organization to limit these activities. ‘It is also judged with’ medium ‘confidence “that South American countries will welcome a coalition to increase enforcement of fishing standards. What they say:” There is a lack of understanding for this problem, that it is a global “The problem is that fisheries are quite stressed,” the senior administration said. The Biden government still sees it as a priority.Background: Former Chinese President Hu Jintao called for building China into a major maritime power, and in 2013 the Chinese State Council brought the fishing industry to the level The Chinese government provides subsidies to the fishing industry, enabling boats to cover the fuel costs of sailing to distant shores, including near West Africa and South America. “China’s leaders consider water fleets in the vert e as a way to project presence around the world so that, when it’s time to set up regulatory frameworks, it will play a major role in setting up the frameworks, “said Tabitha Mallory, CEO. of the consulting firm China Ocean Institute and affiliated professor at the University of Washington. The goal is to “be present throughout the world’s oceans so that they can direct the results of international agreements covering maritime resources,” Mallory said, “including not only fishing, but the exploitation of the seabed, the Arctic. “and other important issues and regions. The US government has paid closer attention to China’s increasingly global fishing fleets in recent years. The SAFE (Maritime Safety and Fisheries) Act, passed in December 2019, introduced a “government approach” to combat IUU fishing. In May 2020, President Trump issued an executive order to combat illegal deep-sea fishing and promote U.S. competitiveness In September 2020, the State Department fished fish caught by China’s distant water fishing fleet added to its list of goods produced by forced labor – a possible concern that was also raised in the DHS document. about these issues too, ‘Mallory said. “Everything the US does alone will be seen by the Chinese as merely part of the backdrop of increasing competition for power.” Like this article? Get more from Axios and subscribe to Axios Markets for free.