Greater openness will 'benefit navy'

A naval commander said yesterday that the Chinese navy should become more open when cooperating with international navies in fighting pirates.

"Openness can help China learn from more experienced navies," said Rear Admiral Du Jingchen, commander of the fleet that is returning after 123 days on the high seas near Africa.

Du suggested the navy, which conducted its first overseas combat mission in decades, should learn from the foreign navies' civilian-based information network, including civilian satellites, which help them monitor the pirate-riddled region.