Rafting is the tactic of tying ships at anchor together to establish a semi-persistent floating outpost that is hard to uproot.

Gaute Friis | JULY 16, 2023

Gaute Friis

Team Member

“Rafting” refers to the gray zone tactic of tying ships together at anchor to establish semi-persistent floating outposts that are difficult disperse due to their collective mass. 

The ships are generally the component of China’s People’s Armed Forces Maritime Militia (PAFMM) known as Spratly Backbone Fishing Vessels (SBFV). According to the Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative’s detailed report on the PAFMM, these SBFVs receive generous government subsidies to remain at sea for most of the year, specifically to assert Beijing’s expansive maritime claims.

Continue reading Gray Zone Tactics Playbook: Rafting →