It is also a reminder of an itinerant merchant tradition of the ancient Chinese caravans.

BBC: Shopping in Chiang Mai

Thousands of Chinese-flagged merchant ships now cross the ocean each year, giving China plenty of justification for increasing its naval presence.

ECONOMIST: Asia's navies

"When Putin came here to open a Pacific Rim exhibition, he was surprised to see Chinese people selling things in the markets, " says Wei Dai Tong, the Vladivostok merchant.

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