Where there is sea, there are pirates, Part 2

I have an update for all the folks that transport goods via the high seas. US Naval Commander Rear-Admiral James Kelly told an Australian newspaper last week that China is building up its submarine and warship capacity to help protect its sea lanes.

China's booming economy means that it has a voracious appetite for raw materials (see previous China-related blogs), much of which needs to be imported. And this means that it has plenty of incentive to have the capability to keep its sea lanes open.

Most of China's trade goes through the Malacca Straits and the Bay of Bengal, which have more pirate activity than anywhere else in the world.

Over 65,000 vessels pass through the strait every year, carrying half the world's oil and more than a third of its commerce. The Strait of Malacca is notorious for robberies and kidnappings by pirates, mostly directed against commercial shipping. Increased security patrols by Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia have helped the number of attacks drop drastically.

Sources: The Age, The Malaysia Star, The International Herald Tribune
Also See "Where there is sea, there are pirates," Part 1