Malaysia showed true courage on Friday when it detained 60 Chinese fishermen who had illegally anchored in its waters. This action represented a much needed show of resolve against China’s undermining of sovereign territorial interests.

Malaysia seized the fishermen and their vessels after they anchored illegally in Malaysian waters. This brazen show of disdain for Malaysian sovereignty is standard fare in Chinese fishing practice. Emboldened by Beijing’s aggressive diplomatic stance and increasingly impressive navy, Chinese fishing fleets believe they can go wherever they wish and fish at whatever scale they desire. These fishing fleets thus represent the civilian element alongside China’s militaristic policy in the South China Sea. Still, the impunity with which Xi Jinping’s fishing fleets operate is truly something to behold. Off the West African coast, China’s fishing fleets are rapidly depleting once abundant marine habitats, and in the process, impoverishing already poor local fishermen. These hundreds-of-vessel-strong fleets also operate in the most precious of marine habitats. They have waged war on the wildlife of the Galapagos Islands, for example.