The Chinese government has approved a set of technical guidelines that require all civilian shipbuilders to ensure that their new vessels are suitable for military use in an emergency, the China Classification Society has revealed, reports Reuters. The plan will enable China to convert the considerable potential of its civilian fleet into military strength, said the China Classification Society, a shipping industry association, reported the official China Daily. The Technical Standards for New Civilian Ships to Implement National Defence Requirements cover five categories of vessels - container, roll-on/roll-off, multipurpose, bulk carrier and break bulk.