China Marine Surveillance (CMS)

The China Marine Surveillance (CMS), created on 19 October 1998, is a paramilitary maritime law enforcement agency of the State Oceanic Administration of the People’s Republic of China. The force is responsible for enforcing laws and order within China’s territorial waters, exclusive economic zones (EEZ), and shore, protect maritime environment, natural resources, navigation aids and other facilities, and carry out maritime surveys. In time of emergency, the force can also be deployed for other missions such as search and rescue.

The CMS carries out regular patrols and inspections in China’s coastal waters and shorelines using vessels and aircraft. One particularly important mission of the force to prevent illegal dumping of wastes into the sea by passing ships and industrial facilities both onshore and offshore. In recent years, marine surveillance vessels have also been carrying out patrol in some of the disputed waters in the East China Sea in declaring China’s sovereign in the these regions.

Organisation

The CMS has three regional headquarters in Qingdao (covering the Bohai Sea and Yellow Sea), Shanghai (cover the East China Sea), and Guangzhou (covering the South China Sea). Each regional headquarters has three marine surveillance flotillas, an aviation unit, as well as a number of communications and logistics support units.

There are also eleven provincial marine surveillance headquarters, 50 municipal marine surveillance headquarters, and 170 county marine surveillance units across the coastal region.

The CMS is organised and managed as a paramilitary organisation. Its personnel wear the blue-white uniform and receive some military training.

As of the end of 2005, the CMS was equipped with 91 patrol vessels and 4 aircraft.

Order of Battle

North Sea Headquarters (Qingdao)

• 1st Marine Surveillance Flotilla
• 2nd Marine Surveillance Flotilla
• 3rd Marine Surveillance Flotilla
• Aviation Unit
• Communications Station
• Law Enforcement Unit

East Sea Headquarters (Shanghai)

• 4th Marine Surveillance Flotilla
• 5th Marine Surveillance Flotilla
• 6th Marine Surveillance Flotilla
• Aviation Unit
• Communications Station

South Sea Headquarters (Guangzhou)

• 7th Marine Surveillance Flotilla
• 8th Marine Surveillance Flotilla
• 9th Marine Surveillance Flotilla
• Aviation Unit
• Communications Station

See Also

• China Marine Surveillance Vessels

Last update: 14 March 2009