China is considering sending armed police boats down the Mekong River after pirates attacked Chinese vessels in Thailand's part of the river last month, according to a report by Xinhua. Chinese authorities are discussing the plan with the governments of Laos, Thailand and Burma, the report said. The proposed patrols, which would be the first of their kind for China in Southeast Asia, come amid worries over the country's efforts to extend its economic and strategic reach in the region. Such fears have run high over the past year, fueled by territorial disputes in the South China Sea.