CHINA plans to authorise its coast guard to demolish any foreign construction on Chinese-claimed reefs or islands, and also allow the use of weapons against foreign ships.
Sweeping changes under the proposed law, will see the coastguard having the right to board, search, detain and expel foreign vessels in the waters under Chinese jurisdiction.
It also says that handheld weapons may be used against vessels deemed to have violated China's sovereignty, either in emergencies or if warnings are not heeded.
According to a South China Morning Post (SCMP) report, the draft law was released for public review last week on the website of the National People's Congress and it is expected to be passed in December at the earliest.
The draft law would make clear the Chinese coast guard's role in maritime security, administrative law enforcement, criminal investigation and international cooperation.
Under the proposal, the coastguard would oversee 11 aspects of the sea, such as patrolling Chinese-administered waters and guarding Chinese-controlled reefs and islands, including artificial islands.
It would also take counterterrorism measures on the seas, investigate smuggling and other criminal acts, protect the marine environment, oversee other vessels' resource exploration and exploitation, manage fishery activities, and search and rescue.
The draft says the coastguard "has the right" to order foreign organisations and individuals to stop the construction of buildings, structures and deployment of floating devices on islands claimed by China.
The coast guard would also be authorised to use all necessary measures, including the use of weapons in the event Chinese territorial claims are threatened.
Its personnel are equipped with police weapons while the ships have water cannons and some light firearms on its ships and helicopters. China's coast guard had 130 vessels at the end of 2019, and has 10,000 tonne-plus ships equipped with 76 mm guns. This effectively make them the world's largest coast guard vessels.
Another provision allows the Chinese coast guard to fire on foreign vessels if they fail to heed its orders as well as use weapons on aircraft if the Chinese Coast Guard comes under attack.
The Chinese coast guard was re-established in 2013 as the sole civilian law enforcer on the sea after it was merged with other maritime administrative institutions.
It has since been active in incidents and clashes with other claimants in the disputed East and South China seas.
Meanwhile, Nikkei Asia said Beijing's move has raised concerns about the heightened risk of a clash around the Japan-administered Senkaku Islands.
China claims the islands as the Diaoyu, and Chinese vessels, including coast guard ships, have been spotted in the area on a near-daily basis.
The Japanese government also sees the new law as giving China the legal grounds for landing on the disputed islands to secure the removal of lighthouses.
Responding to the development, Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Katsunobu Kato said Tokyo will "continue to watch developments regarding China's coast guard with great interest," and that relevant government agencies were gathering information.
Nikkei said Beijing's leadership has been pushing the integration of China's coast guard, which is now commanded by a former naval officer, with the People's Liberation Army navy.