I can think of a few good reasons.. for one thing, because eventually they'll have to pitch in helping the US/JAP/AUS navies in policing the pacific. The chinese don't even have a bluewater navy at the moment, and the Russian navy has been out of the pacific for awhile now.

In case you haven't been keeping up with current event from the last decade, Pirates are back. YArrr matey, the same seaborne terrorists from hundreds of years ago are infesting the sealanes from the SE pacific to the indian ocean. again. Pirates.

who'd a thunk. Real pirates. In the 21st century. Not just a loveable Disney character aftereall.




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Gone are the days when the pirates had eye patches, swords, and were the masters of fast cutters; now it's Raybans, cellular phones and high-speed boats.

Today's ships, with their high-value cargos and small crews to man the ships that carry them, are highly vulnerable to criminal predators in high-speed boats, armed with modern assault weapons, and operating in sea lanes that international carriers must traverse. Pirates are thus able to make surprise attacks on unarmed merchantmen and get away with money and loot.

The end of both colonial controls and latter the cold war has reduced naval presence and capability in regions where piracy has historically flourished. Modern day pirates, well armed and well equipped, are becoming more active in the Pacific and along the coasts of Africa and South America.
http://www.globalsecurity.org/milita...ra/pirates.htm
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So that's it - pirates? Hope that post was tongue in cheek.

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http://politicalforum.com/showthread.php?t=27847

Everyone loves a good Pirate movie!




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U.S. Navy Still Battles Pirates on the High Seas
01 November 2007

Destroyed pirate vessels off coast of Somalia, aided North Korean crew

By Jacquelyn S. Porth
USINFO Staff Writer



Washington -- Countering piracy, or any other threat, comes naturally to U.S. Navy personnel patrolling critical sea lanes around the world, and October was a busy month for those monitoring pirate activities off the east coast of Africa.

On October 30, a U.S. Navy destroyer answered a call for help -- relayed through the International Maritime Bureau -- from the North Korean crew on a vessel that had been overtaken by pirates in international waters October 29.

The USS James Williams dispatched a helicopter to the sugar-laden Dai Hong Dan, poised 60 nautical miles off the coast of Somalia, to investigate the situation.

The helicopter confirmed the plight of the ship -- the pirates had taken control of the ship’s bridge while the crew was confined to the steering and engineering areas -- and the destroyer headed to the scene. Upon its arrival, the Navy demanded the pirates surrender.

The arrival of U.S. assistance emboldened the North Koreans to take on the pirates, and a gun battle ensued that left two pirates dead and five captured. Although the North Korean crew regained control of their ship, three members were wounded in the fight.

U.S. Navy medics were invited on board to treat the wounded. The North Korean sailors were transferred to the American destroyer for medical treatment and later returned to their vessel. The five surviving pirates were kept under guard on the North Korean ship, which returned to the Somali port of Mogadishu.

A coalition vessel destroyed the two pirate skiffs so they would not be used again for nefarious purposes.

http://www.globalsecurity.org/milita...101-usia01.htm
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Do a pirate search... lotsa good material to make a cool movie with.

I don't know why the development of one's military strength should be explained to public. I do agree a more open discussion of the military policy can increase the understanding between countries, but it is not an excuse to critize one's military development policy.

i don't think a country has right to "request" another country to publish their military spending in details. What would the reaction of US government if China request them to publish all the spending in details, including research projects, secret service.....i don't think US will be happy to do that. Oh, by the way, i don;t think that US people really understand where is their money spend in the US military development...who knew the government was developing an atomic bomb during world war two? Who knows what secret weapon is the US government developing?

No one is forcing them to explain. But if they refuse to explain, we will be forced to speculate.

Ultimately, we want an explanation because we do not trust the CCP. That is what it all comes down to.

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Doesn't hurt to ask! I would tell the U.S. to bite my ass, but that's just me. But they are free to ask.

China can spend whatever it wants on its military. It's their money. They are so nice, they are even helping us spend on our military.

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good news. another commie country headed for bankruptcy

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The US spends more on its military budgets than ALL other nations put together.

If a nation increases its spending on defense that the US is not directly supplying with its own US private corporations THEN ITS SOME SORT OF INTERNATIONAL ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE DISCUSSED AND CURBED.

What a joke - The USA has not limit to its inherent hypocrisy and double standards.

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