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Odd: Thousands of Chinese Fishing Vessels in Geometric Formation
Posted: Fri Mar 13, 2026 9:07 pm
by mike
Seems odd.
Around 2,000 Chinese vessels have formed geometric shapes near Taiwan
The formations in the East China Sea have been observed three times since December.
Naval and military experts call these actions unprecedented in scale and suggest that they may be related to Beijing's preparations for a regional crisis, according to the Associated Press.
Re: Odd: Thousands of Chinese Fishing Vessels in Geometric Formation
Posted: Fri Mar 13, 2026 9:40 pm
by barnhart
I saw a ship tracking image of the formation. Very strange.
Re: Odd: Thousands of Chinese Fishing Vessels in Geometric Formation
Posted: Sat Mar 14, 2026 10:28 am
by JohnL
Those aren’t fishing vessels. They’re China’s version of PT boats and recon. China is taking advantage of the Iran conflict now.
Re: Odd: Thousands of Chinese Fishing Vessels in Geometric Formation
Posted: Sat Mar 14, 2026 1:09 pm
by barnhart
JohnL wrote: ↑Sat Mar 14, 2026 10:28 am
Those aren’t fishing vessels. They’re China’s version of PT boats and recon. China is taking advantage of the Iran conflict now.
What is the advantage of forming 1,000 mile rectangles at sea?
Re: Odd: Thousands of Chinese Fishing Vessels in Geometric Formation
Posted: Sat Mar 14, 2026 1:36 pm
by mike
JohnL wrote: ↑Sat Mar 14, 2026 10:28 am
Those aren’t fishing vessels. They’re China’s version of PT boats and recon. China is taking advantage of the Iran conflict now.
Apparently this is not the first time; I've seen posts on X saying they've done it various times this year.
Re: Odd: Thousands of Chinese Fishing Vessels in Geometric Formation
Posted: Sat Mar 14, 2026 3:09 pm
by Soloist
barnhart wrote: ↑Sat Mar 14, 2026 1:09 pm
[quote=JohnL post_id=299267 time=<a href="tel:1773498530">1773498530</a> user_id=31403]
Those aren’t fishing vessels. They’re China’s version of PT boats and recon. China is taking advantage of the Iran conflict now.
What is the advantage of forming 1,000 mile rectangles at sea?
[/quote]
Wife: Quite mysterious. If they were circles, I would think it was for pi day…
Re: Odd: Thousands of Chinese Fishing Vessels in Geometric Formation
Posted: Sat Mar 14, 2026 6:42 pm
by JohnL
barnhart wrote: ↑Sat Mar 14, 2026 1:09 pm
JohnL wrote: ↑Sat Mar 14, 2026 10:28 am
Those aren’t fishing vessels. They’re China’s version of PT boats and recon. China is taking advantage of the Iran conflict now.
What is the advantage of forming 1,000 mile rectangles at sea?
It doesn't appear to be for reasons of fishing. The Chinese "fishing boats" that have been stopped in the past carried their version of Navy SEALS. Also some were smuggling both people and drugs.
Military wise strategically I can think of a few reasons.
Battle formation and covering each other from live fire.
Checking for underwater mines and submarines with underwater sonar with specialized trawling rigs.
Setting up or maybe pulling down underwater submarine nets.
Re: Odd: Thousands of Chinese Fishing Vessels in Geometric Formation
Posted: Sat Mar 14, 2026 9:04 pm
by Judas Maccabeus
JohnL wrote: ↑Sat Mar 14, 2026 6:42 pm
barnhart wrote: ↑Sat Mar 14, 2026 1:09 pm
JohnL wrote: ↑Sat Mar 14, 2026 10:28 am
Those aren’t fishing vessels. They’re China’s version of PT boats and recon. China is taking advantage of the Iran conflict now.
What is the advantage of forming 1,000 mile rectangles at sea?
It doesn't appear to be for reasons of fishing. The Chinese "fishing boats" that have been stopped in the past carried their version of Navy SEALS. Also some were smuggling both people and drugs.
Military wise strategically I can think of a few reasons.
Battle formation and covering each other from live fire.
Checking for underwater mines and submarines with underwater sonar with specialized trawling rigs.
Setting up or maybe pulling down underwater submarine nets.
Denial of the area to the enemy in the event of conflict.