China's Maritime Law Enforcement Reorganization

China is reorganizing its maritime law enforcement agencies, its principal tool for pressing territorial claims in the South and East China seas. The new measures could significantly enhance the efficiency of the maritime law enforcement agencies by reducing redundancy, improving response time, strengthening communications and bolstering overall command and control mechanisms. Japan's coast guard is the only civilian agency in the region that is robust enough to directly counter China's maritime agencies. Though both sides do not want any escalation over this issue, one could occur accidentally.