# Structure of the People's Liberation Army Navy

The People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) is the naval branch of the People's Liberation Army (PLA). The PLAN force consists of about 250,000 men and over a hundred major combat vessels, organized into three fleets: the North Sea Fleet, the East Sea Fleet, and the South Sea Fleet. Below is the organizational structure of the PLAN.

## PLAN headquarters

PLAN headquarters is subordinate to the PLA General Staff Department and the Chairman of the Central Military Committee .
Information current as of March 2007
* Commander-in-Chief of the Navy: Admiral Wu Shengli
| Commander | Command Period |
| Wu Shengli | Aug 2006 – Present |
| Zhang Dingfa | Jun 2003 – Aug 2006 |
| Shi Yunsheng | Nov 1996 – Jun 2003 |
| Zhang Lianzhong | Jan 1988 – Jun 2003 |
| Liu Huaqing | Aug 1982 – Jan 1988 |
| Ye Fei | Jan 1980 – Aug 1982 |
| Xiao Jinguang | Jan 1950 – Jan 1980 |
* Political Commissar of the Navy: Admiral Miao Hua
| Political Commissar | Command Period |
| Miao Hua | December 2014 – Present |
| Liu Xiaojiang | Jul 2008 – December 2014 |
| Hu Yanlin | Jun 2003 – Jul 2008 |
| Yang Huaiqing | Jul 1995 – Jun 2003 |
| Zhou Kunren | Dec 1993 – Jul 1995 |
| Wei Jinshan | April 1990 – Dec 1993 |
| Li Yaowen | Oct 1980 – April 1990 |
| Ye Fei | Feb 1979 – Jan 1980 |
| Du Yide | Oct 1977 – Dec 1978 |
| Su Zhenhua | Sep 1971 – Sep 1977 |
| Li Zuopeng | Jun 1967 – Sep 1971 |
| Wang Hongkun | Mar 1966 – Jun 1967 |
| Su Zhenhua | Feb 1957 – Feb 1966 |
Deputy Commanders:
* Ding Yiping
* Jin Mao
* Shen Binyi
* Wang Yucheng
* Zhang Yongyi
* Zhang Zhannan
* Zhao Xingfa
* Gu Wengen
Deputy Political Commissars:
* Kang Chengyuan
* Fan Yinhua
* Wu Huayang
    Chief of Naval Staff: Ding Yiping
    Director of Political Department: Xu Jianzhong
Fleet Commanders
* North Sea Fleet: Rear Admiral Tian Zhong; Political Commissar Li Guang
* East Sea Fleet: Vice Admiral Xu Hongmen; Political Commissar Xu Jianzhong
* South Sea Fleet: Vice Admiral Gu Wengen; Political Commissar Huang Jiaxiang

## Fleets

The People's Liberation Army Navy is divided into three fleets.
    China PLA Navy Sea Fleets (2007) Fleet Status Parent Command Patrol Region Headquarters Flagship North Sea Fleet (NSF; Chinese: 北海舰队) Active Northern Theater Command (Chinese: 北部战区) Bohai Bay, Yellow Sea Qingdao, Shandong Province DDG 112 Harbin (Chinese: 哈尔滨), Type 052 Luhu-class Destroyer East Sea Fleet (ESF; Chinese: 东海舰队) Active Eastern Theater Command (Chinese: 东部战区) East China Sea Ningbo, Zhejiang Province DDG 150 Changchun (Chinese: 长春), Type 052C Luyang II-class Destroyer South Sea Fleet (SSF; Chinese: 南海舰队) Active Southern Theater Command (Chinese: 南部战区) South China Sea Zhanjiang, Guangdong Province AOR/AK Nanchang

## Bases

North Sea Fleet Major bases: Qingdao (HQ), Huludao, Jianggezhuang, Guzhen Bay, Lushun, Xiaopingdao.Yuchi Minor bases: Weihai Wei, Qingshan, Luda, Lianyungang, Ling Shan, Ta Ku Shan, Changshandao, Liuzhuang, Dayuanjiadun, Dalian
East Sea Fleet Major bases: Ningbo (HQ), Zhoushan, Shanghai, Daxie, Fujian. Minor bases: Zhenjiangguan, Wusong, Xinxiang, Wenzhou, Wenzhou SE, Sanduao, Xiamen, Xingxiang, Quandou, Wuhan, Dinghai, Jiaotou
South Sea Fleet Major bases: Zhanjiang (HQ), Yulin, Huangfu, Hong Kong, Guangzhou (Canton) . Minor bases: Haikou, Shantou, Humen, Kuanchuang, Tsun, Kuan Chung, Mawei, Beihai, Pingtan, San Chou Shih, Tang-Chiah Huan, Longmen, Bailong, Dongcun, Baimajing, Xiachuandao,

## Branches

The PLAN is organised into five branches:
* People's Liberation Army Navy Surface Force
* People's Liberation Army Navy Submarine Force
* People's Liberation Army Navy Coastal Defense Force
* People's Liberation Army Naval Air Force
* People's Liberation Army Marine Corps