Claim: In step one of People's Liberation Army Navy Admiral Liu Huaqing's three-step process, from 2000 to 2010, China would develop a naval force that could operate up to the first island chain; then in step two, from 2010 to 2020, China's navy would become a regional force capable of projecting force to the second island chain.
Evidence: Liu Huaqing (Chinese: 刘华清; October 1, 1916 – January 14, 2011) was Chinese revolutionary and an admiral of the People's Liberation Army Navy, who served as the third Commander-in-Chief of the Navy from 1982 through 1988. Taking over the role of Navy Commander-in-Chief from his predecessor Ye Fei (who retired due to health problems), Liu had outlined a three-step process by which China would have a navy of global reach by the second half of the 21st century. In step one, from 2000 to 2010, China would develop a naval force that could operate up to the first island chain. In step two, from 2010 to 2020, China's navy would become a regional force capable of projecting force to the second island chain.