The “strings” have included seeking commercial seaports that have the potential to host Chinese warships, and alliances stretching from Gwadar in Pakistan, where a Chinese port is nearly finished, through the Indian Ocean and Southeast Asia.
China currently has an unknown number of military forces in Sudan, another major oil supplier for Beijing.
Meanwhile, a Chinese admiral last week urged China to establish naval supply bases overseas.
Rear Admiral Yin Zhou stated that bases abroad could be used to support Chinese out-of-area deployments, like the current anti-piracy program.
“This is entirely a matter for the country's foreign policy circles, but I feel that would be appropriate if we could have a relatively stable, fixed base for supplies and maintenance," said Yin, who is director of an advisory committee for the Chinese navy's drive to upgrade information technology.
"I think countries near any relatively long-term supply bases established by China, and other countries participating in the escort mission, could understand," he said, adding that would be more affordable than re-supplying via ship on the high seas.
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