China: Time to attack Somali pirate bases

AP ^ | 2011-05-21

[Mount Athos]

China's military is urging land attacks on Somali pirate strongholds in a bold call signalling the armed forces' growing assertiveness.

China's navy has taken part in anti-piracy patrols in the Gulf of Aden since December 2008, but the government has not advocated direct attacks on land areas from which pirates operate.

However, at a news conference in Washington on Wednesday, General Chen Bingde said he believes land bases must be attacked in order for counter-piracy campaigns to be effective.

The US and other countries taking part in the patrols have steered clear of land attacks for fear of becoming mired in ongoing campaigns in Somalia - a lawless nation where 18 US servicemen were killed in the capital, Mogadishu, in 1993.

[rogue yam]

Good. It’s time the Chinos did something useful.

Let them do the dirty work, scorch the Somalis, and receive the “condemnation” for it.

I’m tired of the U.S being the only party to take on the ugly jobs.

[bigheadfred]

You are all missing the big picture.

If China gets troops into Africa, they ain’t never going to try to leave.

They’d just as soon have as much of Africa that they can get.

[oldbrowser]

If China goes in, they won’t be handing out candy bars and calling lawyers for permission to pull the trigger. They do have substantial investments in Africa, but I think that if they do something, it will be to send a message to us.

My concern would be that china will set up a permanent base there or even colonize the area and make it a Chinese territory. Who is going to stop them?

[Teacher317]

Attack the pirates bases? It took how many years for someone to figure that out?

Since nobody else has taken the lead, China is slowly and cautiously stepping in. They are taking the right measured steps to become a global leader, while our current White House consistently thumbs its nose at our traditional allies and encourages our enemies.

[bigheadfred]

Exactly.

They aim to get Africa.

[Navy Patriot]

This is about China intending a lot more Chinese trade shipping in the area, and the pirates will become irksome. Additionally, China seeks to establish more authority of force on the African continent where Chinese factory towns already have Chinese "security" around the factories for the workers.

The Middle Kingdom WILL project police authority where it has interests, that is the future.

[rbg81]

The West wouldn’t do something that was actually EFFECTIVE for fear of being labeled Politically Incorect. Better just to pay ransom (tribute) and let the pirates go (with a letter of reprimand) when they’re captured. Obviously, China has no use for such foolishness.

I’d be all for this, except for the suspicion that China’s motive is a naval base in Somalia.

[gaijin]

1. Training exercise to take Taiwan.

2. Will serve as base to secure Chinese mineral interests in Africa.

3. Will control sea lanes.

4. Will enjoy a high level of support from ticked-off people all around the world.

5. The PRC will lavish lots of anti-piracy rhetoric on all this, and will express shock if there are lulls in international thanks.

[BuckeyeTexan]

Good. Fine. Let China take care of the problem.

[Scotsman will be Free]

I say we encourage the chicoms to invade that worthless stretch of africa.

[Chode]

is we suggested it we'd be imperialistic white colonialists... but since the Chins bring it up it's OkyDoky???

[Army Air Corps]

Peiping.

[PapaBear3625]

In light of the fact that Somali piracy is actually seafaring jihad, getting the PLA to stick its fingers in that hornet’s nest might actually be good policy for the West: the jihadis would have a new enemy to deal with (and not even “people of the Book”, full fledged kafirs), and China would have something to bog down its military expansion.

I don't think the Chinese would get bogged down. They know a lot about guerrilla warfare, and I think they know better than than to get involved in a land war against people who know the territory.

Patrolling the coastline blowing away any Somalis who get anywhere close to the sea lanes is another story.

[Salvavida]

Very good. A lot of folks don’t understand they need a laboratory to test their amphibious and combined arms doctrine. Especially with an aircraft carrier.

And they will certainly not leave. A piece of Somalia will be the first expeditionary base for the PLAN. Then they will have a seat at the table as far as Middle East safe passage and exploration of resources. Fishing, oil, etc.

There won’t be any western journalists to tell the story of the liquidation.

It’s a win-win for them. They have also calculated correctly that no one will get in their way.

[RichInOC]

Hurrah for the ingenuity of the naval enlisted service, wherever they may serve.

[SERKIT]

Madeline All-Dim must be so proud of the world’s new superpower. Too bad we don’t have a Commander in Chief with a brain and a pair.

[indthkr]

"direct attacks on land areas from which pirates operate."

I'll start paying attention when they attack and combat counterfeiting, intellectual property theft, and other forms of piracy in their own country!

[353FMG]

Finally some leadership to stop these Somali pirates for good. The US has already relinquished theirs under 0.

I hope China goes medieval on them like walking the plank, keelhauling and other punitive measures.

We can expect to see piracy cease in a couple of weeks once the word goes out of what will happen to those who hijack vessels on the high seas.

[UnwashedPeasant]

China should do it. It will be good practice for when they do the same to us.

[The_Reader_David]

Or, they might have enough hubris to think that their national experience with guerilla warfare would give them an advantage at counter-guerilla warfare. The current generation of PLA officers don’t have much experience with either.