Start with the navy

ARTICLE: 'PLA Navy urges greater joint effort against piracy,' By Greg Torode, South China Morning Post, November 13, 2009

As much as we fear China's growing naval capability, the truth is always that it's easier for navies to reach out to one another than armies or air forces, so we need to exploit this growing desire on the part of the PLAN to step up.

(Thanks: Ricardo Marquez)

Comments

[jason]

"it's easier for navies to reach out to one another than armies or air forces"

Why is that?

[Tom Barnett]

Air forces can't pull up to one another in any space the same way navies can in the common areas of the oceans. Air space and ground borders tend to be sacred, so no real mixing.

But open oceans? That's were countries meet on neutral territory.

Plus, navies are the soul of exploration historically, so it draws a certain crowd.

Plus, navies historically are "master and commander" situations where the captain rules, so more discretion and more willingness to reach out.

Finally, all seamen share that certain mindset of doing battle more with the ocean than with each other, and it makes cross cultural exchanges a lot easier.