Quote:
Originally Posted by glatt
So why doesn't China have an aircraft carrier?
How long does it take to build up a navy? The are growing really fast. They have basically pulled themselves into the modern world by their bootstraps in a decade. You'd think that would have included a navy.
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They are currently building one. Fast. If I remember correctly they are fastest growing navy in the world right now.
Undertoad basically said what I have heard as well. Almost all trade from the Indian Ocean to Pacific Ocean goes through the Strait of Malacca (Singapore anyone??) and for the past 60 years it has been protected solely by the US Navy. I doubt China is seriously worried about the US or India, they are building a navy as well, shutting it down because of the economic consequences to all countries but it is in China's best interests to be able to protect their interests in the strait and Chinese funded ports in Pakistan and Indonesia themselves.
China will be interesting to watch in the upcoming century. There are predictions that they will attempt to control their surrounding area in similar manner that the US solidified regional power in the Americas. Gain sole naval control of the South China Sea (Caribbean Sea) and build a canal through Thailand (Panama).