Best Defense

Thomas E. Ricks' daily take on national security.

Chinese vs. the pirates

Not long ago I was having an argument with some military strategists about what, if anything, the United States should do about Somali pirates. The strategists tended to say that it isn’t our problem. My view was that it was partly our problem, because so much of the oil we consume passes through those waters ...

Not long ago I was having an argument with some military strategists about what, if anything, the United States should do about Somali pirates. The strategists tended to say that it isn't our problem. My view was that it was partly our problem, because so much of the oil we consume passes through those waters en route from the Persian Gulf, and also that we have an interest in law and order on the high seas. My secondary argument was that if we didn't, someone else would. Now I see that the Chinese are sending three ships to help patrol the area off Somalia. "This is shaping up to be a key step in China's rise as a great power," comments John McCreary in NightWatch.

Not long ago I was having an argument with some military strategists about what, if anything, the United States should do about Somali pirates. The strategists tended to say that it isn’t our problem. My view was that it was partly our problem, because so much of the oil we consume passes through those waters en route from the Persian Gulf, and also that we have an interest in law and order on the high seas. My secondary argument was that if we didn’t, someone else would. Now I see that the Chinese are sending three ships to help patrol the area off Somalia. "This is shaping up to be a key step in China’s rise as a great power," comments John McCreary in NightWatch.

Thomas E. Ricks covered the U.S. military from 1991 to 2008 for the Wall Street Journal and then the Washington Post. He can be reached at ricksblogcomment@gmail.com. Twitter: @tomricks1

More from Foreign Policy

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping give a toast during a reception following their talks at the Kremlin in Moscow on March 21.
Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping give a toast during a reception following their talks at the Kremlin in Moscow on March 21.

Can Russia Get Used to Being China’s Little Brother?

The power dynamic between Beijing and Moscow has switched dramatically.

Xi and Putin shake hands while carrying red folders.
Xi and Putin shake hands while carrying red folders.

Xi and Putin Have the Most Consequential Undeclared Alliance in the World

It’s become more important than Washington’s official alliances today.

Russian President Vladimir Putin greets Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev.
Russian President Vladimir Putin greets Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev.

It’s a New Great Game. Again.

Across Central Asia, Russia’s brand is tainted by Ukraine, China’s got challenges, and Washington senses another opening.

Kurdish military officers take part in a graduation ceremony in Erbil, the capital of Iraq’s Kurdistan Region, on Jan. 15.
Kurdish military officers take part in a graduation ceremony in Erbil, the capital of Iraq’s Kurdistan Region, on Jan. 15.

Iraqi Kurdistan’s House of Cards Is Collapsing

The region once seemed a bright spot in the disorder unleashed by U.S. regime change. Today, things look bleak.