The United States and its ally Japan recently boosted their maritime law enforcement fleets as China continued expanding its naval and coast guard presence in the Pacific.

Newsweek has reached out to the Chinese Foreign Ministry for comment via email.

Why It Matters

China operates both the world's largest navy and coast guard by hull count, according to a Pentagon assessment, helping Beijing expand its reach and influence beyond East Asia. The Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy has over 370 operational ships and submarines, while the China Coast Guard fields more than 150 vessels over 1,000 tons.

Aside from asserting China's sovereignty in nearby disputed waters—including Japan 's Senkaku Islands in the East China Sea—both the Chinese navy and coast guard have operated in

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