Coast guard vessels regularly patrol disputed areas, escort Chinese fishing fleets, inspect foreign vessels, and employ coercive measures—including water cannons, lasers, blocking maneuvers, and collisions—to challenge rival claimants. In mid-July, Chinese coast guard ships confronted Philippine vessels on three occasions, using water cannons despite the incidents occurring within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone. Maintaining a persistent coast guard presence also strengthens China’s claim that it exercises effective control over disputed waters. A 2021 Coast Guard Law further broadened its powers, authorizing the use of force to defend China’s claimed maritime rights. At the same time, the fleet has expanded to include some of the world’s largest coast guard ships, several of which rival naval warships in size and capability.