The PLA at Home and Abroad - Strategic Studies Institute - U.S. Army

31. Chinese shippers have seized a significant portion of the
global shipping market by coming from the market that most
drives growth in global bulk commodity and container shipping,
and by minimizing crewing and other costs. No shippers from
any country have been eager to spend money on private security
fees, as this would affect their margins significantly and make
them less competitive.
32. Huang Li, pp. 170. During the concurrent Russia-Georgia
War, Moscow reportedly invited Beijing to send ships to fight pirates,
but Beijing feared becoming implicated in an anti-NATO
“alliance.”
33. Ibid., pp. 169. Eighty-six percent of respondents to a Chinese
news media survey agreed that “China should send warships
to fight international pirates and protect cargo ships of
China.” But some Chinese feared the potential for a new “China
Threat Theory,” the potential for PLAN secrets to be revealed,
and the potential for disproportionate cost; and advocated a freeriding
approach.
34. Ibid., p. 170.
35. The author is indebted to Nan Li for these insights.
36. Huang Li, p. 170.
37. Ibid.
38. See “Head of International Cooperation Department of
Ministry of Transportation Reveals Origins of Decision on Naval
Escort,” 三联生活周刊 (Sanlian Life Weekly), January 16, 2009,
available from www.lifeweek.com.cn; “Military Law Precedes
Movement of Troops and Horses—The Chinese Military Also
Needs the ‘Cover’ of Law,” 南方周末 (Southern Weekend), April 2,
2009. The author thanks Nan Li for directing him to these sources.
39. 李韬伟 (Li Taowei), “今日长缨在手—海军司令部作战部
长沈浩答本报记者问” (“Today We Hold the Long Cord in Our
Hands—Shen Hao, Director of the the director of the Operations
Department at PLAN Headquarters, Answers Our Reporter’s
Questions”), 人民海军 (People’s Navy), December 27, 2008, p. 3.
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