ASIA: "Into the wide blue yonder: Asia's main powers are building up their navies. Is this the start of an arms race?" The Economist, 7 June 2008, p. 53.

China and other Asian states say they build up their navies to ward off pirates and terrorists. This is considered an "implausible" explanation by the Economist. Hmm, the magazine should spend more time at naval conferences. I hear that stuff from more than just Asian navies . . . Emerging great powers build navies. That's history. The Asian situation has been artificial for a very long time: the American navy dominating the region's waters. In a "flat world," it should not surprise anyone that this does not continue, nor should it. Instead, we should be encouraging the rise of Asian navies interested in policing their own waters and securing the SLOCs between Asia and the Middle East, not to mention handling disaster relief. But, of course, says the magazine, despite lots of opportunities for cooperation, there also exists the danger of confrontation. So what's the answer? Let the naval developments trigger more regional security agreements. Build your East Asian NATO from the water in. Oh, and dream of another Pacific War!