(12-02-2021 11:42 AM)ODU BBALL Wrote:  The problem there is that pirates don't tend to discriminate about who they attack. Other nations (including some allies) would be subject to having their shipping disrupted as well.

Those other nations can provide some of their own security. Europe is already doing it with Operation Atalanta off Somalia. China would have an extremely long supply chain to cover, and it passes through or around some places that are not very friendly to China (around India, Malacca/Sunda) so that is a particular challenge to them. PLAN would basically have to reconfigure from a force to harass and intimidate neighbors around the SCS to a blue-water force. That would at least slow China's ambitions for a few years. To support such a fleet China has been working seaport deals all over south Asia, east Africa, and even the Mediterranean. We are asleep at the wheel.