Such an outcome would give China far greater power projection in the East and South China Seas -- through which flow much of East Asia's trade, including the bulk of Japan and South Korea's oil imports.

CNN: Milestones and Millstones

But for strategists grappling with the diminished safety of the world's seas off east Africa and in other perilous spots such as South-East Asia and the waters of Nigeria figuring out a sensible and workable division of labour between navies and private firms is not easy.

ECONOMIST: Piracy and private enterprise