China’s shipbuilders are teasing a new coast guard ‘mothership,’ and there’s talk it could be an aircraft or drone carrier

China’s coast guard already has a large fleet of more than 200 patrolling vessels. But if it wants to further contest territory in the South China Sea — its most high-profile area of operations — it has to figure out how to efficiently repair and resupply its ships at a distance.

A drone carrier could circumvent that issue, Koh said, allowing Beijing to maintain a 24/7 presence by deploying in a central location and sending out the drones repeatedly.

“If you put drones and small craft into a very strategic area, it could have a pretty big coverage. That’s likely the Chinese strategy,” Koh said.

Notably, Japan is planning a similarly massive coast guard vessel that it says will displace some 30,000 tons and be an “offshore base” for other ships. The largest ship in its current coast guard fleet is 6,500 tons.

China saying ‘far seas’ could be a clue

The 708th’s description of its new vessel as a “far seas” support ship also indicates that Beijing may have plans to use its coast guard further abroad.

China has, in the last 10 years, promoted the idea of defending its interests overseas with naval assets, in the same way that the US Navy patrols waters all over the world.

“As part of its Belt and Road Initiative strategy, China seems to be growing the role and presence of its coast guard in the South Pacific, after doing the same in Southeast Asia,” said Benjamin Blandin, a researcher and network coordinator at the Yokosuka Council on Asia-Pacific Studies.

“But there is a big step from planning to operational reality,” he added. China still needs a network of ports and resupply points to operate efficiently on the high seas.

Dahm said China will have an easier time putting its ships in foreign territory if they’re painted in coast guard livery.

“Having coast guard vessels working with host nation law enforcement is a much better look for China than a big gray warship bristling with missiles,” he said.

The international press center for China’s foreign ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment sent by Business Insider.