..... when considering Chinese political strategies, always give additional weight to the enjoyment & "Let-their-hair-down" aspects of any moves that are made.
"It is irrefutable that the 5 million blokes and blokettes in Chinese uniform want & need great dollops of fun and to have a fleet surfing contest ahead of the Pipeline Masters would be just the ticket to become happy future warfighters".
Qi himself is a goofy footer with a Kelly Slater like bottom turn .... and 5 million surfboards make great camouflage cover for the fleet. (They even cheated by towing, then allowing, their best 500 surfers to ride the wash from their aircraft carriers, which is strictly forbidden in the rules of the Pipeline Masters & the Eddie Ikau competitions).
Sure, to have the entire Chinese fleet parked off the North Shore and chucking their food wrappers overboard may be a bit intimidating, but hey, to make a #64 Moggie Omelette you surely have to break a few .......