{"id":7773,"date":"2023-10-27T08:20:10","date_gmt":"2023-10-27T07:20:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.deepworldsea.com\/?p=7773"},"modified":"2023-10-27T08:20:10","modified_gmt":"2023-10-27T07:20:10","slug":"can-the-coast-guard-afford-south-china-sea-proposal","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.deepworldsea.com\/can-the-coast-guard-afford-south-china-sea-proposal\/","title":{"rendered":"Can The Coast Guard Afford South China Sea Proposal"},"content":{"rendered":"
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The South China Sea is one of the world’s most contested regions. As China continues to expand its presence and military capability in the South China Sea, the U.S. Coast Guard is looking at a proposal that would put its ships and crews in the middle of this volatile situation. The proposal faces a multitude of issues, not the least of which is whether it is financially feasible for the Coast Guard to mount such an effort.<\/p>\n

The Coast Guard and the U.S. Navy are the two branches of the U.S. military with a presence in the South China Sea. While the Navy has a considerable presence in the region, the Coast Guard’s presence is much smaller and typically relies on civilian vessels to support its mission. In 2019, the Navy conducted more than 200 operations in the South China Sea while the Coast Guard completed just a handful. As activity in the region continues to increase, the Coast Guard has put forward a proposal to expand its operations in the South China Sea.<\/p>\n

The proposal calls for the U.S. Coast Guard to deploy a number of cutting edge ships and aircraft to the area, with a focus on ensuring freedom of navigation and enforcing U.S. maritime law. However, the cost of such an operation could be staggering. The Coast Guard would need to purchase new vessels and aircraft, as well as upgrade its existing ships and equipment. The estimated cost has been estimated to be upwards of $2 billion.<\/p>\n

It remains to be seen whether the Coast Guard can afford to undertake such an ambitious project. Experts say that given the current budget constraints, the Coast Guard may need to make cuts in other areas in order to fund the proposal. Furthermore, the resources may be better used elsewhere in the world for other missions. There is also an inherent risk that such a deployment could lead to a military confrontation with China or other nations in the region.<\/p>\n