Britain's Pacific naval commitments could exceed the ships it wanted to keep there in peacetime. A few frigates were expected to carry the reputation of a much larger navy. A crisis such as the Boxer Rebellion could bring substantial reinforcement. Between crises, the small force still had to signal a willingness to defend British territories and, later, friends in the region.
Notable Point · 23:51-24:32
Pacific commitments with only a few frigates
A small peacetime force must represent commitments that depend on reinforcement during a crisis.