4 ms·

I don't think violence is a good option. Also consider there are likely the working poor on the boats, even systems of slave labour. Far better would be to cat

I don't think violence is a good option. Also consider there are likely the working poor on the boats, even systems of slave labour. Far better would be to catch them, fly the crew home and and auction the vessels. In Australia they do similar but burn the boats as these tend to be smaller vessels made of wood. The thought that you'll lose your boat for a catch if fish is a huge deterrent.

holografix 5y ago
Violence is never a “good” option but to paraphrase Winston Churchill: you don’t negotiate with a dragon while your head is in its mouth. Sinking some of these vessels would attract the right amount of international attention and force action. Seizing and destroying is a worth while risk and a “cost of doing business”. You want to play a game of cat and mouse? You’re one cat they’re many many more mice.
- hungryforcodes 5y ago
  Until they start coming with armed escorts.
  - aoeusnth1 5y ago
    That would justify a significant escalation of force. I don’t see that happening.
  - MrRiddle 5y ago
    Let’s see anyone firing at US Navy destroyer.
    - hungryforcodes 5y ago
      This is in Argentina, cowboy. /s
  - theshrike79 5y ago
    Some of the ships are already armed. Not with cannons, but enough firepower to make them dangerous. Some have even reinforced bows for ramming, not really standard issue fishing stuff.
- dredmorbius 5y ago
  Political power grows out of the barrel of a gun. (枪杆子里面出政权) -- 毛泽东 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Political_power_grows_out_of_the_barrel_of_a_gun https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Political_power_grows_out_of_t...
- Gustomaximus 5y ago
  Nice quote but does Argentina have their head in a dragons mouth? Its not even a negotiation. China wont strongly protest seizure of illegal fishing boats if they are fishing in another countries waters. They would if you start gunning citizens down, because in what civilized world is the death penalty an appropriate punishment for theft, not least having no due process etc. As for cat an mouse, you dont have to catch them all, a few seizures will 1) Scare vessels so they look for lower risk waters and 2) They may well keep fishing the fringes, but are less likely to go blatantly deep into territorial waters. And if they sweep in for the largest modern boats it might even be a profitable exercise.

holografix 5y ago

Violence is never a “good” option but to paraphrase Winston Churchill: you don’t negotiate with a dragon while your head is in its mouth. Sinking some of these vessels would attract the right amount of international attention and force action. Seizing and destroying is a worth while risk and a “cost of doing business”. You want to play a game of cat and mouse? You’re one cat they’re many many more mice.

hungryforcodes 5y ago
Until they start coming with armed escorts.
- aoeusnth1 5y ago
  That would justify a significant escalation of force. I don’t see that happening.
- MrRiddle 5y ago
  Let’s see anyone firing at US Navy destroyer.
  - hungryforcodes 5y ago
    This is in Argentina, cowboy. /s
- theshrike79 5y ago
  Some of the ships are already armed. Not with cannons, but enough firepower to make them dangerous. Some have even reinforced bows for ramming, not really standard issue fishing stuff.
dredmorbius 5y ago
Political power grows out of the barrel of a gun. (枪杆子里面出政权) -- 毛泽东 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Political_power_grows_out_of_the_barrel_of_a_gun https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Political_power_grows_out_of_t...
Gustomaximus 5y ago
Nice quote but does Argentina have their head in a dragons mouth? Its not even a negotiation. China wont strongly protest seizure of illegal fishing boats if they are fishing in another countries waters. They would if you start gunning citizens down, because in what civilized world is the death penalty an appropriate punishment for theft, not least having no due process etc. As for cat an mouse, you dont have to catch them all, a few seizures will 1) Scare vessels so they look for lower risk waters and 2) They may well keep fishing the fringes, but are less likely to go blatantly deep into territorial waters. And if they sweep in for the largest modern boats it might even be a profitable exercise.