Why use a warship when a fishing boat will do? Civilian hulls buy deniability, and each cable cut is small enough to absorb. That a feature not a bug. We spill the tea.

“China prefers ‘invisible hybrid warfare’ (隐形混合战) over kinetic warfare.  Covert irregular warfare enables China the means to quietly overwhelm its targets not only physically but economically and politically as well – all without firing a shot.  The use of civilian fishing vessels not only provide plausible deniability but legitimizes China’s claims and salami-slicing tactics as lawful and just.”