Re: Somali pirates and Chinese navy
Thats true what you say,but Western critics suggest China should be prepared to do more, after all its not short of. money
Ah but Western critics also say that China's growing naval power is a threat. So really, which side is the one to be taken? And China is prepared to do more (relative to previously). A few years back the idea of China patrolling far off seas was highly doubtful, but this time last year the PLAN decided to take a trip to somalia. I consider that as an indication it is "prepared to do more".
2/ Up to now,Its been the American Navy that patrols the Trade routes at her own expense, IMO an Aspiring world power like China should be prepared to contribute more in that direction, instead of freeloading off the West. and to do this it probably needs a truely bluewater navy with several carriers
China is prepared to do more as shown in the Somalia patrols, but you can't say China is "freeloading" off the West, because the flipside is that if there comes to a conflict then the West will control the trade routes. One reason why the West doesn't like China having a better navy is that it'll be able to protect it's own trade routes and threaten the grip over the routes countries like the US hold and generally just challenge US power.
It's good though, the west is able to say "do more, China pull your own weight", but also "your navy is too strong, why do you need a stronger navy?". Either way the PRC is still the one ends up looking bad. I think you really can't use the argument that China should be doing more rather than "freeloading" when you consider the above points.
It was one of the worst hit areas.it was highly publicized by New Zealand Newspapers how Indias navy was in there helping, but China couldn't even if it wanted too , because it didnt have the right type of ships.( Thats kinda embarassing for a wanabe worldpower, being shown up by India)
And China has rectified that by the introduction of 071 LPD, hospital ships etc. It's disaster relief capabilities are far different to those a few years ago.
Also, I don't think China is a "wannabe world power". Recently a Chinese poll showed that they considered China's power to be 7th in the world. I think it's the West which says China is a "growing world power" (it is exactly that, but the West over emphasises the fact), and then when China doesn't live up to expectations, the sharks come in and diss the PRC.
