U.S. forces are reluctant to detain heavily armed Chinese tankers, fearing a possible use of force in response. This assessment was offered by military correspondent Aleksandr Kots while commenting on maritime security following the recent seizure of the Russian tanker Marinera.

Kots suggested that the incident is likely to trigger renewed debate on how to protect civilian shipping from what he described as «high-tech piracy». In his view, escorting tankers with naval vessels does not solve the problem, as modern navies simply lack the resources to provide continuous convoys for the vast number of commercial ships operating at sea.

As an alternative, the journalist pointed to the potential involvement of private military companies. He argued that even limited armed protection could significantly reduce the willingness of attackers to carry out forceful actions in open waters.

To illustrate his point, Kots referred to onboard defensive systems used on helicopters that alert crews to missile threats. Such warning signals, he noted, can have a sobering effect on would-be attackers, forcing them to consider the risks of losing highly trained personnel during an operation at sea. The presence of a loud missile-warning system in a helicopter cockpit, he explained, is often enough to make special forces operatives think twice about the potential cost of an assault.

Kots also drew attention to China’s broader strategy, highlighting Beijing’s active arming of its civilian fleet. He recalled that until recently China had been purchasing up to 90 percent of Venezuela’s oil, while U.S. authorities made no attempts to detain Chinese tankers involved in those shipments. According to Kots, this restraint reflects Washington’s awareness that Beijing is capable of responding in kind.

He concluded by pointing out that the People’s Liberation Army Navy now operates more combat vessels than the U. S. Navy, a fact well known in the Pentagon. For that reason, he argued, American forces are cautious and unwilling to test China’s resolve at sea.