Sounds Like a P.L.A.N.

A Red Chinese naval squadron is mounting out for the Gulf of Aden to add its weight to the fight against rampant piracy. I have little doubt that they are sending their varsity squad, and I don’t think we should view this as a good thing.

The three vessels — two destroyers and a supply ship — may increase worries about growing Chinese military power. The mission will also challenge China’s ability to cooperate [who says they're going to cooperate?] with other naval forces patrolling the Gulf of Aden, one of the world’s busiest sea lanes.

I think that the Western allies’ lack of decisive operations against these barbarians has opened the door to the Chinese. After all, nature abhors a vaccuum. This is a tailor-made for the P.R.C. to step in, and do what the traditional naval powers have been unwilling or incapable of doing. If they can pull it off, this will greatly enhance their prestige on the international scene, and will provide significant justification for nations whose vessels have to ply those waters to view the Chinese as a benevolent power. All of that will be to our detriment.

Oh, and I do expect they’ll have some growing pains with both tactics and sustainment. But don’t you think for a minute that they won’t learn their lessons, and prepare diligently for greater things to come.

Deploying ships to the Gulf of Aden marks a significant step in the evolution of China’s navy, according to a report by Stratfor, an Austin, Texas-based intelligence company. The mission will be complicated, offering vital on-the-job training in refueling, resupply and repairs far from home as well as patrolling for pirates, Stratfor said.

All of the foregoing will be to our detriment. We have only ourselves to blame.