From cargo to combat: China urged to prepare civilian ships for wartime use The recent call to prepare China's civilian ships for wartime use has sparked a debate about the country's military preparedness.
This issue is particularly pertinent given China's growing maritime interests and expanding naval capabilities. The 1982 war between Argentina and Britain in the Falklands provides an interesting precedent.
In this conflict, the British successfully commandeered dozens of commercial vessels within days of the outbreak of hostilities.