By: cate

In the schoolyard a small child has a bag of cookies – a big strong child wants that whole bag of cookies – and he is strong enough to take it from the small child – but he sees the small child  has many friends – some big and strong – some small yet strong for their size – so the big child cannot get the bag of cookies.  But the big child also notices that the small child shares his cookies with his friends – not so good as getting the whole bag of cookies – but better than nothing or getting beaten up by all the small child's friends.
 
That is RIMPAC -  and of course China gets concerned – she can not grab that bag of cookies all for herself.  But perhaps she could learn that cooperation – will get her some of the cookies as well as the friendship of the other countries.  I look forward to the day China can join the other nations at RIMPAC – perhaps to prepare for the alien invasion (LOL).
 
BTW – Vietnam was present as observors.  Reps from all three branches of their military attended.  Another very powerful lesson from RIMPAC – if ever two countries had cause for hatred and resentments it is the US and Japan after WWII.  Yet within sight of the memorials to the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor and the memorial to Japanese surrender – Japanese naval ships peacefully docked.  A Japanese Admiral was second in command of the overall exercise and Japanese sailors worked together with US and other nations that had once been bitter enemies.   It gives one hope.