China Moves Out: Stepping Stones Toward a New 

Maritime Strategy

by Christopher H. Sharman

China Strategic Perspectives 9

Center for the Study of Chinese Military Affairs

Institute for National Strategic Studies

National Defense University
This paper was originally presented at the Chinese Council for 

Advanced Policy Studies–RAND Corporation–National Defense 

University 26th Annual Conference on the People’s Liberation Army 

on November 21–22, 2014, at the RAND Corporation office in 

Arlington, Virginia. The conference series is co-sponsored by the 

Chinese Council for Advanced Policy Studies in Taiwan, the RAND 

Corporation, and the Center for the Study of Chinese Military 

Affairs, Institute for National Strategic Studies, at the National 

Defense University (NDU).

Because of the timeliness and quality of the author’s analysis, 

the conference organizers agreed to publish this paper as part of the 

China Strategic Perspectives series from NDU Press to get the findings out quickly. Other papers from the conference are currently in 

revision for future publication in an edited volume.

Cover photo: Chinese and Russian vessels gather at designated sea area 

during China-Russia joint naval drill in the East China Sea, May 24, 2014 

(Corbis/Xinhua/Zha Chunming) 
China Moves Out

Center for the Study of Chinese Military Affairs

Institute for National Strategic Studies

China Strategic Perspectives, No. 9

Series Editor: Phillip C. Saunders 

National Defense University Press

Washington, D.C.

April 2015

by Christopher H. Sharman

China Moves Out:

Stepping Stones Toward a

New Maritime Strategy
For current publications of the Institute for National Strategic Studies, please visit the NDU Press Web site at:

ndupress.ndu.edu.

Opinions, conclusions, and recommendations expressed or implied within are solely those 

of the contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of the Defense Department, U.S. 

Pacific Command, or any other agency of the Federal Government. Cleared for public release; 

distribution unlimited.

Portions of this work may be quoted or reprinted without permission, provided that a 

standard source credit line is included. NDU Press would appreciate a courtesy copy of reprints 

or reviews.

First printing, April 2015
Contents

Executive Summary ........................................................................................... 1

Introduction........................................................................................................ 3

Near Seas Active Defense Strategy................................................................... 3

New Historic Missions....................................................................................... 5

Strategic Framework for a New Maritime Defense Strategy ........................ 5

Enhancing Fundamentals: 2004–2006............................................................. 9

Initial Steps into the Western Pacific: 2007–2009 ........................................13

Normalization of Western Pacific Deployments: 2010–2012.....................18

Stepping Stones Toward Far Seas Defense: 2013–2014 ...............................25

Indicators of a Maritime Strategy That Includes Far Seas Defense............33

Conclusion ........................................................................................................36

Notes ..................................................................................................................40

About the Author .............................................................................................47

Acknowledgments............................................................................................47

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China Moves Out

Executive Summary

Over the last decade, the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) has increased the frequency, duration, complexity, and distance from the mainland of its operations. Not only does 

China maintain a permanent counterpiracy escort flotilla in the Indian Ocean, it also now routinely conducts naval exercises and operations beyond the first island chain throughout the 

year. This normalization of PLAN operations in the Western Pacific and beyond is an important 

step toward an emerging new maritime strategy that will incorporate far seas defense.

Far seas defense involves extending PLAN combat capabilities into waters farther from 

China. The concept is consistent with stated PLAN goals and training requirements, but it is 

not formally incorporated into China’s current maritime strategy. Chinese President Hu Jintao’s 

2004 New Historic Missions charter provided the PLAN with the strategic direction to develop 

concepts, experience, and tactics germane to establishing far seas defense capabilities. PLAN 

deployments to and exercises in the near seas since 2004 have been evolutionary steps toward 

implementing a near seas active defense strategy, but regular deployments deeper into the Western Pacific have also helped the PLAN build the ability to operate in the far seas and begin to 

operationalize the concept of far seas defense. 

This monograph begins by examining the geography, history, and strategic focus of near 

seas active defense, China’s current maritime strategy. It illustrates how the New Historic Missions expanded PLAN mission requirements from traditional near seas operating areas to operations in the far seas. The paper provides a strategic framework for a new maritime defense 

strategy that would incorporate far seas capabilities. It then examines the evolution of PLAN 

operations and exercises since 2004. The monograph concludes by identifying several factors 

that, if observed, would indicate PLAN incorporation of far seas defense as part of an emerging 

new maritime strategy.

PLAN deployments to the Western Pacific since 2004 demonstrate a deliberate and methodical approach to normalization, from single fleet and single-dimensional (surface ship 

against surface ship) scripted exercises in the Western Pacific to multifleet coordinated unscripted training involving submarines, surface ships, unmanned aerial vehicles, and fixedwing aircraft. There has also been a gradual increase from a few ships conducting deployments 

to as many as 12 ships and submarines deploying simultaneously. The monograph summarizes 

these changes as well as PLAN trends in signaling and in the steady expansion of chokepoints 

used by PLAN ships to access the near seas. It also highlights the growing complexity of informatization over time.
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China Strategic Perspectives, No. 9

The PLAN is likely to gradually increase the frequency of combat readiness patrol deployments to the far seas over the next 5 to 7 years. An uptick is likely in mixed-platform 

PLAN surface action groups rehearsing a myriad of combat warfare disciplines, such as exercising antisubmarine, antiair, and antisurface warfare during deployments to the far seas. 

These combat readiness patrols may include deployments along various strategic sea lines 

of communication in the Pacific, chokepoints in the Indian Ocean, and perhaps even to the 

Northern Pacific to support China’s Arctic interests. 

Operationalization of far seas defense will consist of regular deployment of surface action 

groups that provide maximum flexibility to address ever-changing mission objectives. PLAN 

ships deploying to the far seas will possess robust communications capabilities and will be 

linked through relatively rapid information flow across and up the chain of command. PLAN 

near seas operations over the last decade have included political signaling, suggesting the PLAN 

will be used for this mission in the far seas as well. 

Indications that the PLAN is aggressively looking to operationalize far seas defense missions would include observation of Jiangdao light frigates assuming greater responsibility for 

missions traditionally assigned to larger PLAN combatants within the first island chain, construction of icebreakers, enhanced intelligence support to deployed ships, active reporting on 

distant sea operations in the official Chinese press, a gradual increase in the frequency of deployments, and enhanced PLAN logistics support capabilities.
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China Moves Out

Introduction

The Director of Intelligence for the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Rear Admiral Paul Becker, recently 

stated the United States has a “data glut but an information deficit” on China. He indicated there 

is a lack of understanding of China’s “interim objectives” and “main campaigns” and urged, “We 

need to understand their [China’s] strategy better.”1

 Admiral Becker’s assertions are particularly 

pertinent when considering recent changes in Chinese naval operations. 

Over the last several years, the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) has increased the 

frequency, duration, complexity, and distance from the mainland of its operations. Not only 

does China maintain a permanent counterpiracy escort flotilla in the Indian Ocean, it also 

routinely conducts naval exercises and operations beyond the first island chain. These changes 

in PLAN operational patterns raise many strategic questions. To what extent are the recent 

changes intended to send political signals to other countries in the region? Are the changes 

mainly a continuation of PLAN modernization trends? What do they suggest about where the 

PLAN will operate in the future? 

To help close the existing information deficit identified by Admiral Becker, this paper asserts that Chinese President Hu Jintao’s 2004 New Historic Missions charter provided the PLAN 

with the strategic direction to develop concepts, experience, and tactics germane to establishing 

far seas defense capabilities. 2 It employs a historical approach to examine PLAN near seas operations and exercises from 2004 to 2014. It argues that PLAN deployments to and exercises in 

the near seas since 2004 have been evolutionary steps toward implementing the near seas active 

defense strategy. These Western Pacific deployments have become routine for the PLAN and 

are now conducted throughout the year. The analysis yields insights into how lessons learned 

from near seas operations are being combined with far seas deployment proficiencies to modify 

China’s current near seas active defense maritime strategy. The paper argues the PLAN will 

routinely deploy ships to defend China and its interests in the far seas by integrating far seas 

defense capabilities into China’s existing maritime strategy. It concludes by identifying several 

factors that, if observed, would indicate that this transition is occurring.

Near Seas Active Defense Strategy

China’s current maritime strategy is commonly referred to as “offshore defense” or translated more literally, “near seas active defense” [jinhai jiji fangyu, 近海积极防御].3

 It is a regional 

strategy that matches China’s naval capabilities to its regional maritime interests.4

 The scope of 

near seas active defense is not constrained by geographic features but instead covers “the area 
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China Strategic Perspectives, No. 9

of the sea that is under China’s legitimate jurisdiction as well as any area that can be used by an 

enemy to threaten China.”5

 Admiral Liu Huaqing, China’s navy commander from 1982 to 1988, 

defined near seas active defense operating areas as covering: “1) The first island-chain, which 

stretches from the Kurile Islands through the islands of Japan, Ryukyu Archipelago, Taiwan, 

the Philippines to Borneo Island; 2) the Yellow Sea, East China Sea and South China Sea, or the 

three near seas within the inner rims of the first island-chain, and 3) sea areas adjacent to the 

outer rims of this island-chain, and those of the north Pacific.”6

Liu’s definition suggests PLAN strategists would consider operations east of Taiwan or in 

the Philippine Sea, throughout the South China Sea and Spratly Islands, as well as at strategic 

chokepoints such as the Bashi Channel and Miyako Strait, as all being within the traditional 

near seas active defense operating areas. PLAN operations in the Gulf of Aden, Indian Ocean, 

or well into the Pacific would be considered far seas missions.7

 Operationally, near seas active 

defense consists of layered defenses in the near seas orchestrated to deter a potential adversary 

from threatening China from the sea.

Near seas active defense was first conceptually proposed by Deng Xiaoping in 1979 and 

was actively debated and evaluated during the 1980s. It was formally introduced in 1993 when 

the Central Military Commission issued revised strategic guidelines that shifted the “Main Strategic Direction”—the PLA’s assessment of where it would most likely be called upon to conduct 

main operations—from China’s northern border with Russia to Taiwan.8

 Even though the strategy had been discussed for over a decade, this shift marked its official implementation,9

 which 

required that the PLAN have the capability to operate proficiently both within its near seas and 

along strategic approaches to China—to include the Western Pacific—to be able to defend the 

People’s Republic of China (PRC). 10

Operationalization of the near seas active defense strategy has been a key factor driving 

PLAN modernization efforts since the mid-1990s.11 Not only did the PLAN need new platforms 

to operate at sea for sustained periods of time, it also had to develop the requisite command 

and control, logistics, doctrine, and training to carry out a sustained campaign against Taiwan. 

The 1995–1996 Taiwan crisis, in which the U.S. Navy dispatched aircraft carriers as a show 

of force, reinforced the need for the Chinese navy to include with near seas strategy the capabilities and tactics to deny, delay, or degrade the ability of the United States to intervene in a Taiwan 

crisis.12 The production of second-generation Luhu and Luhai destroyers and Jiangwei frigates, as 

well as contracts to acquire Sovremenny destroyers in the 1990s, represented some of the PLAN’s 

first steps toward modernization in support of this strategy. Identification of this Chinese approach—whereby a PLAN strategy influences its modernization—suggests that implementation 
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China Moves Out

of far seas defense capabilities into China’s maritime strategy may require another round of modernization or a reevaluation of how existing platforms are employed.

New Historic Missions

The scope of PLAN operating areas was enlarged again in 2004 when President Hu Jintao 

revised the traditional missions of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) during a speech to the 

Central Military Commission. Traditional PLAN missions had been derived from the Chinese 

Communist Party’s Military Guiding Theory, which defines the PLA role in Chinese national 

security as providing the “historic mission” of safeguarding Chinese national interests. President Hu’s “New Historic Missions” speech addressed China’s growing global strategic interests 

and directed the PLA to guarantee the rule of the party, safeguard national economic development and territorial sovereignty, defend China’s expanding national interests, and uphold world 

peace.13 The first two of these “new historic missions” have always been PLA responsibilities, but 

the third mission of defending China’s expanding national interests and the fourth mission of 

upholding world peace were new. 

Because China’s economic interests are global in scope, new historic missions provide the 

PLAN with official guidance to expand its operations well beyond the immediate Chinese periphery.14 While China’s maritime near seas active defense strategy and its commensurate modernization were focused on Taiwan contingencies and defending China, new historic missions 

increased the number and scope of naval missions. 

China’s navy has gradually expanded the area of its operations since President Hu announced 

the new historic missions in 2004. China’s 2006, 2008, and 2010 Defense White Papers highlighted 

PLAN moves to expand its operating range.15 The 2013 Defense White Paper went further and 

stated that the PLAN was “developing blue water capabilities of conducting mobile operations, 

carrying out international cooperation, and countering non-traditional security threats, and 

enhanc[ing] its capabilities of strategic deterrence and counterattack.”16 The expansion of PLAN 

operational range and capabilities has enabled it to gradually begin fulfilling its newly identified 

responsibility to protect Chinese national interests. This move to more frequent blue water operations has also pushed the PLAN to develop capabilities that are prerequisites for implementation 

of a new maritime strategy that can defend China’s interests in the far seas.

Strategic Framework for a New Maritime Defense Strategy

China’s navy faces a two-fold challenge. It must continue improving its capabilities to defend China’s national security in the near seas while simultaneously conducting new historic 
6 

China Strategic Perspectives, No. 9

missions that will frequently divert navy resources to the far seas. PLAN experience conducting 

long-range counterpiracy deployments, coupled with its normalization of deployments to the 

Western Pacific, makes the present an ideal time for it to incorporate far seas defense capabilities into China’s current near seas active defense maritime strategy. 

Far seas defense involves an extension of PLAN combat capabilities into the far seas. It is 

consistent with PLAN stated goals and training requirements but not formally incorporated 

into China’s current maritime strategy. It includes stationing PLAN assets along strategic sea 

lines of communication (SLOCs), at strategic chokepoints, and along approaches to China in 

the far seas. Far seas defense enables China to rapidly respond to diverse challenges or threats 

originating in the far seas, to protect its economic interests in or transiting through the far seas, 

and to dissuade potential adversaries operating in the far seas from intervening in contingencies 

involving China. 

Surface and subsurface deployments to the Indian Ocean are becoming more regular, and 

China is expanding its operations further east in the Pacific. These deployments represent an 

evolution of PLAN capabilities to operate further from shore, but they also indicate the beginning of a fundamental strategic shift from a near seas active defense strategy to a maritime 

strategy that includes far seas defense capabilities. This conclusion is supported by analysis of 

China’s primary maritime interests, the Indo-Pacific strategic maritime environment and Beijing’s likely assumptions about it, and Chinese strategic maritime goals. 

China’s primary interests that drive PLAN missions are national security and economic 

stability. Its maritime security concern is homeland defense, which includes Taiwan, its territorial claims within the nine-dash line in the South China Sea, and the Diaoyu (called Senkaku by 

Japan) Islands in the East China Sea. Threats to its security interests come from any military that 

can prevent China from asserting its claims. China’s maritime strategy must anticipate these 

threats, which may require the PLAN to be defensively postured in the far seas.

China’s economic interests are global in scope, which will influence how the country will 

employ its navy. Piracy is a threat to China’s economic interests and is subsumed under the 

threats to international SLOCs, which cause delays in imports or exports. Protecting SLOCs 

may require modifications to China’s current near seas active defense strategy because many of 

them fall outside traditional defense operating areas. 

Geography, domestic concerns about stability, and internal political structure are driving 

factors influencing China’s maritime strategy. China’s geographic location between the Middle 

East and the United States is a strategic challenge for the PLAN. Not only must the navy defend 

against threats from the Pacific, it must also look at potential challenges from the Middle East 
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China Moves Out

and Indian subcontinent. This factor suggests China’s maritime strategy may require the PLAN 

to deploy regularly to the far seas of the eastern Indian Ocean and farther east in the Pacific.

A second factor is acute concern about domestic instability. Beijing cannot afford to allow 

external threats to create or exacerbate domestic instability. This concern may influence China’s 

use of the navy in response to real or perceived threats in both the near and far seas. It also helps 

ensure the navy is resourced to address stability threats.

A third driver of China’s maritime strategy is the PLA organizational structure. Xi Jinping 

serves as both president of the PRC and chairman of the Central Military Commission. He 

takes advice on military issues directly from uniformed PLA officers. Because of this organizational structure, PLA perceptions of threats, military requirements, and capabilities influence 

President Xi and China’s collective decisionmaking calculus. Access to the highest levels enables 

the PLA to remain attuned to leadership threat perceptions and make the necessary structural 

changes, such as a new maritime defense strategy, to support strategic objectives.

The same factors that shape China’s maritime strategy also color its assumptions about its 

strategic environment, influencing how the navy should be employed. One assumption Beijing likely makes is that U.S. military capabilities represent China’s greatest military threat. The 

United States has demonstrated its willingness to intervene in Taiwan (which China considers 

to be a domestic issue), and China’s maritime strategy must address potential U.S. intervention. 

This assumption suggests China will continue to prioritize capabilities to execute near seas active defense within its maritime strategy.

 Furthermore, PRC leaders likely assume their neighbors will continue to challenge China’s perceived sovereignty over disputed maritime territories, which underscores the importance of near seas active defense capabilities within China’s maritime strategy. Japan’s refusal 

to acknowledge the Diaoyu Islands as being in dispute, the Philippines challenge to China at 

Scarborough Reef and Second Thomas Shoal, and Vietnam’s resolve in its recent dispute over 

oil exploration in disputed waters are evidence to Beijing that it continues to face significant 

near seas challenges.

Beijing probably calculates that its dependence on commercial imports will continue to 

grow. China already imports much of its oil, but the demands of the growing middle class will 

require increased global imports. China’s maritime strategy must address how the navy will be 

used to protect commercial shipping through international SLOCs. This assumption suggests 

the PLAN will be required to deploy more regularly to the far seas to protect SLOCs.

Beijing likely assumes it cannot predict every type of contingency that its military may 

need to respond to around the world. In the last several years, the PLAN has participated in 
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humanitarian assistance and disaster relief in the Philippines, counterpiracy operations in the 

Gulf of Aden, recovery efforts associated with Malaysian Airlines Flight 370, and noncombatant 

evacuation in Libya, to name just a few. The diversity of potential future missions suggests the 

need for flexible capabilities in all navy task groups deploying to the far seas. 

Finally, Beijing likely assumes it has made significant progress improving its near seas 

defense capabilities but that it is not yet fully capable of effectively executing near seas active 

defense. The PLAN is keenly aware of the areas in which it must improve to be able to successfully execute near seas active defense. This assumption suggests the PLAN will continue to train 

and exercise in the near seas to enhance those defense capabilities.

Identification of Chinese interests and threats to those interests, Beijing’s assumptions 

about its strategic situation, and analysis of the operating environment all help to clarify Chinese strategic maritime goals. Defending China is the primary goal, but there are several subsidiary goals nested within this objective for the navy. These include ensuring the PLAN is 

capable of defending China from its greatest military rival, developing capabilities to address 

island disputes in the East and South China Sea, and supporting potential PLA contingencies 

against Taiwan. 

A secondary PLAN strategic maritime goal is protecting China’s global economic interests. 

This goal includes subsidiary objectives of enhancing capabilities to protect SLOCs and strategic chokepoints, countering piracy threats, and protecting commercial interests transiting new 

routes to China, such as the Northern Sea Route through the Arctic. 

China must examine the current maritime resources available to accomplish its strategic goals. The PLAN has 73 destroyers and frigates, 62 submarines, and 14 corvettes divided 

relatively evenly among its three fleets.17 Chinese fixed-wing naval aviation assets and coastal 

defense cruise missiles are factors in strategic decisionmaking but are primarily germane to the 

near seas component of a maritime strategy. Although not under PLAN control, elements of the 

Chinese Coast Guard are maritime assets, which can be integrated into the near seas component of a new maritime strategy. 

Beijing might choose to use deterrence and dissuasion as strategic approaches to implementing a new maritime strategy that includes both near and far seas components. Deterrence 

is most applicable to Chinese navy operations in the near seas, while dissuasion is a logical 

approach in the far seas. Chinese interests and goals suggest near seas defense will remain the 

most important element of China’s maritime strategy. The incorporation of far seas defense into 

China’s current maritime strategy would enable the PLAN to more adequately protect national 

interests and to achieve the goals identified in this strategic framework. 
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China Moves Out

China has considered operating in the far seas for more than a decade. In 2002, President 

Hu stressed the need for the PLAN to “make the gradual transition to far-seas defense, enhancing far seas maneuvering operations capabilities.”18 His guidance and the direction repeated in 

the 2013 Defense White Paper that the PLAN safeguard the security of international SLOCs 

make operationalization of far seas defense capabilities a near-term PLAN requirement. How 

the PLAN will attempt to do so may be discerned by evaluating PLAN operations and exercises 

in the Western Pacific from 2004 to 2014. This period is broken into 2- to 3-year increments for 

analytic purposes. 

Enhancing Fundamentals: 2004–2006

During this period, three primary factors influenced the development of PLAN capabilities and tactics to execute near seas active defense and new historic missions. First, geopolitical 

events surrounding issues with Taiwan, Japan, and Hong Kong intensified PLAN requirements 

to become more familiar with waters that could be used during potential future contingencies. 

Second, President Hu reemphasized President Jiang Zemin’s “informatization” concepts, which 

influenced the PLAN tactical approach to both of these missions. Third, President Hu’s 2004 

announcement of PLA new historic missions required the PLAN to enhance its ability to operate at greater distances from the PRC coast. These three factors contributed to PLAN enhancing 

maritime skills as prerequisites for future PLAN operations in the Western Pacific. 

Geopolitical Building Blocks: Improving PLAN Operational Range

Taiwan’s President Chen Shui-Bian was reelected in March 2004. This election included a 

nationwide consultative referendum in which Taiwan’s voters were asked questions about relations with China. Beijing strongly criticized this referendum, viewing it as a step toward future 

Taiwan independence. Beijing’s concerns that Taiwan was drifting toward greater independence 

held direct implications for the PLA’s responsibility for Taiwan contingencies. Analysis of the 

2004 PLA exercises at Dongshan Island helps illustrate PLAN efforts to signal PRC resolve to 

Taipei and enhance its own capabilities to execute near seas active defense. 

The PLA carried out an amphibious training exercise at Dongshan Island in July and August 

2004, the ninth iteration of amphibious training there since 1996. The exercise was intended to 

enhance PLA joint combat capabilities and to “demonstrate their determination to crack down 

on Taiwan independence.”19 It reportedly consisted of 18,000 personnel from all three military 

services, which was a significantly smaller number than the 100,000 who participated in the 2001 

Donghai VI exercise.20 The 2004 Dongshan exercise focused on air superiority, reportedly a change 
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China Strategic Perspectives, No. 9

from previous iterations. 21 The establishment of temporary air superiority would be a necessary 

prerequisite for an amphibious assault against Taiwan because amphibious forces are vulnerable 

to attack from the air.

The PLAN played a significant role in the 2004 exercise. Ships from all three fleets reportedly participated, requiring them to cross fleet and theater boundaries.22 Hong Kong press 

highlighted the participation of both submarines and Sovremenny-class destroyers, 23 which are 

equipped with the SA-N-7 Gadfly surface-to-air missile. They could play a key role in PLA establishment of air superiority in a potential conflict with Taiwan, which helps to explain their 

inclusion. Not only does the incorporation of all three fleets help to facilitate cross-fleet coordination and standardization, it also allows fleets to operate outside of normal operating areas 

and at ranges farther from their home ports. Such capabilities are necessary for a Taiwan contingency and also help to enhance PLAN near seas active defense capabilities.

A May 2004 long-range navigation training event that included elements of all three fleets 

also illustrates how the PLAN has worked to improve its near seas active defense capabilities. A 

flotilla of eight ships and submarines from all three fleets moored in Hong Kong in early May 

2004 for a 3-day visit. 24 Participating units included Luhai DD-167, Luhu DD-112, Jiangwei I 

FF-541 and 542, Jiangwei II FF-566, Jiangwei II FF-567, and Song SS-314 and 324.25 

Although these ships were reportedly on their way to an exercise in the South China Sea, 

the timing of the visit is particularly noteworthy. It occurred just days prior to the May 20 

inauguration of President Chen Shui-bian in Taiwan and 4 days after Beijing announced it interpreted the Basic Law as ruling out universal suffrage for Hong Kong—both events that garnered high levels of attention in Beijing. Although there was no official suggestion by mainland 

authorities that the port visit was intended to be a “signal,” this did not stop both Taiwan and 

Hong Kong press from perceiving it as such. The rarity of ship visits to Hong Kong coupled 

with the timing of key events in Hong Kong and Taiwan certainly suggest PRC signaling of its 

resolve on Taiwan and Hong Kong issues. This port call provides another example of the PLAN 

deploying elements of all three fleets for coordinated training, which helps to improve PLAN 

logistics, command and control, and crew proficiencies in numerous basic skill sets germane to 

near seas defense operations.

Another example of China using the PLAN for signaling involves naval operations in the 

vicinity of the disputed Chunxiao (called Shirakaba by Tokyo) natural gas field. This field is 

located beneath the East China Sea, straddling the Japan-China median line. Both China and 

Japan have equipment in place to extract gas from it, but the area has been an irritant to Sino-Japanese relations for years because of mutual fears of poaching resources. Japan protested 
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Chinese activities at the field in 2004 and 2005 because Japan claimed its resources were being 

“stolen.”26 The PLAN was observed operating advanced destroyers in the vicinity of the disputed 

fields twice in 2005. 

According to Japanese press reporting, in January 2005 a Japanese Maritime Self Defense 

Force (JMSDF) P-3 maritime reconnaissance aircraft spotted two Sovremenny-class destroyers 

sailing near the disputed Chunxiao gas fields. According to the article, “this was the first sighting 

of the Chinese navy’s most advanced destroyers in waters under Japanese surveillance.” 27 The 

following September, just prior to bilateral talks on the disputed fields, Japan’s Defense Agency 

again spotted PLAN ships sailing in a clockwise direction in the waters around the Chunxiao 

fields. The formation consisted of a Sovremenny destroyer, two frigates, and an intelligence collection ship.28 The timing of this naval activity just prior to Chinese talks with Japan suggests 

PRC signaling. More importantly, however, this training enabled the PLAN to familiarize itself 

with unfamiliar waters, which could be used in a future Japan contingency, thereby expanding 

PLAN near seas active defense capabilities.

Figure 1. 2004–2006 PLAN Signaling

CHUNXIAO GAS FIELDS

TAIWAN STRAIT

DONGSHAN ISLAND
12 

China Strategic Perspectives, No. 9

Building Blocks: Improvements in Informatization

The transition of the Central Military Commission chair from Jiang Zemin to Hu Jintao 

in September 2004 appears to have influenced PLAN emphasis on furthering its “informatization” capabilities. Informatization “is a ‘concept . . . that describes the process of moving toward 

greater collection, systematization, distribution, and utilization of information.’”29 It incorporates theories of information warfare, joint operations, informatized operations and command, 

and informatized support.30

Informatization was introduced as a concept in 1997, but it was not until 2002 that it became part of the PLA’s Military Strategic Guidelines.31 In 2002, President Jiang Zemin referred 

to informatization as being both necessary for modernization and a key enabler for integrated 

joint operations.32 President Hu Jintao continued Jiang’s emphasis on informatization in 2006, 

stating, “Local wars under informatized conditions are confrontations between systems of systems, and their fundamental operational mode is integrated joint operations.”33 Informatization 

continued to be integrated and evolve after Jiang Zemin handed off power to Hu Jintao, as reflected in PLAN training and exercises in support of near seas active defense.

Examining press articles that highlight informatization during the 2004–2006 timeframe 

illustrates its integration with near seas active defense. For example, a November 2006 Xinhua 

press agency article reported a new informatized command system in the Chinese East Sea 

Fleet that significantly increased the navy’s combat capabilities.34 The article describes a system 

located at a shore-based command post that integrates data on a common display about sea 

states, air, surface, and subsurface contacts, as well as detailed reporting from forces afloat. The 

article highlights that it is the first time the PLAN incorporated “electronic marking of operational situations and digital transmission of intelligence information instructions.” The system 

described is similar to the U.S. Navy’s Global Command and Control System–Maritime, first 

installed on Navy ships in 1999. Its incorporation in the PLAN suggests that electronic linking 

of ships in a common network is a PLAN requirement for near seas active defense missions and 

for ships operating farther from China in support of new historic missions.

Building Blocks: Improvements in Logistics

President Hu Jintao’s new historic missions required the PLAN to enhance its capability 

to protect China’s expanding national interests by operating farther from the Chinese coast. As 

a result, the PLAN pursued improvements in logistics capabilities during the 2004–2006 timeframe to support such operations. A series of press reports in October 2006 highlighted PLAN 
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China Moves Out

incorporation of the “active maintenance” concept during the trans-Pacific deployment of the 

Luhu-class destroyer Qingdao on a visit to the United States and Canada. 

Active maintenance involves the ship’s crew carefully evaluating and running diagnostics on the myriad of systems and equipment aboard Qingdao prior to departing port to identify materiel weaknesses and then, while at sea, using “advanced at-sea monitoring and measurement as its strives to nip malfunctions in the bud.”35 According to the articles, the PLAN 

“active maintenance” system is a replacement for “after the fact maintenance,” which occurs 

after something malfunctions. The articles indicate “active maintenance” had been incorporated across 12 classes of ships by the end of 1996. Practices such as “active maintenance” 

contribute to the PLAN ability to operate farther from homeport in support of near seas and 

far seas defense.36

Initial Steps into the Western Pacific: 2007–2009

Over the next 3 years, the PLAN built on capabilities demonstrated during the 2004–2006 

timeframe and expanded its operations beyond the first island chain into the Western Pacific. 

Examining Western Pacific operations, training for the PLAN’s first counterpiracy task group to 

the Gulf of Aden, and reading the January 2009 edition of the Outline of Military Training and 

Evaluation (OMTE) provide insight into the continued evolution of near seas active defense, as 

well as some of the first glimpses into PLAN development of far seas defense capabilities.

Expansion of PLAN Operating Areas

During the period 2007–2009, the PLAN continued to train and exercise in areas supporting 

future contingency operations, particularly expanding operations into the Philippine Sea beyond 

the first island chain as part of the evolution of near seas active defense. One example of Philippine 

Sea operations was a weeklong “campaign-level naval exercise,” which included PLAN operations 

east of Taiwan, just north of the Philippine archipelago.37 According to Hong Kong media reports, 

the exercise “simulated a ‘pincer attack’ on Taiwan as well as a naval blockade.”38

The exercise reportedly involved PLA Air Force assets from the Nanjing and Guangzhou 

Military Regions as well as PLAN assets from the East and South Sea Fleets, including PLAN 

Sovremenny destroyers and Kilo-class submarines. Live firing of cruise missiles was conducted.39 Official Chinese press reporting of the exercise stated that it focused on operating within 

“complex electromagnetic and severe weather conditions” and allowed operators to hone techniques and combat tactics and rehearse joint operations.40 Operating east of Taiwan familiarizes 

the PLAN with waters where it might execute various contingencies under the concept of near 
14 

China Strategic Perspectives, No. 9

seas active defense. Moreover, the execution of this exercise may have served as a PRC signal of 

its concerns about Taiwan’s political trajectory.41

The November 2007 exercise east of Taiwan followed two other noteworthy North Sea 

Fleet PLAN deployments to the Philippine Sea in 2007 (see table 1). The first deployment started on April 28 when a flotilla of five frigates and destroyers and a supply ship departed Qingdao. 

Table 1. 2007–2009 PLAN Operations in the Western Pacific

Key: DDG: destroyer; AOR: auxiliary oiler replenishment; F, FF: frigate; ATA: bulk carrier

Sources: “China Deploys Naval Fleet in the Water off Taiwan’s East Coast,” Asahi Shimbun; “China 

Show of Strength,” Asia Times; “PLA Exercise Makes Pincer Attack on Taiwan,” Ming Pao; “Chinese 

Vessels Pass Tsugaru Strait from Tsushima,” [中国海軍新型艦など対馬から津軽を通過], Asagumo

[朝雲], October 23, 2008; and Sato Ken [佐藤賢], “PLA Naval Activities Becoming Brisker; Going 

From Coastal Waters into the Pacific; Missions Becoming Diversified, Including Disaster Relief” [中

国海軍、活動活発に、近海から太平洋へ、災害救助など、任務も多様化], Nihon Keizai Shimbun [日本経済新聞], November 17, 2008; “Four Chinese Vessels Spotted off the Coast of Okinawa, 

A Russian Nuclear Submarine Spotted off the Soya Cape” [沖縄沖に中国艦4隻、宗谷岬沖に露の

原潜], Asagumo [朝雲], November 6, 2008; and “Chinese Vessels Drilling in the Pacific?,” [太平洋

側で訓練か], Asagumo [朝雲], July 2, 2009. Jane’s Sentinel Security Assessment—China and Northeast Asia was used to cross-reference PLAN ship names and hull numbers cited in press reporting to 

identify NATO class name and fleet subordination of PLAN ships. The annual Japanese Defense White 

Paper was also used to cross-reference press reporting with PLAN transits of chokepoints near Japan.

Approximate Date Fleet Surface Ships Strait/Channel

April–May 2007 North Sea Fleet 5 PLAN ships East: Miyako

West: Bashi

May 2007 North Sea Fleet 4 PLAN ships East: Miyako

West: Bashi

November 2007 East Sea Fleet Unknown number

Sovremenny DDG

East: Not reported

West: Not reported

October 2008 East Sea Fleet Sovremenny DDG

Jiangkai I FF-529

Jiangkai II FF

Fuchi AOR-886

East: Tsugaru

West: Miyako

November 2008 North Sea Fleet Luzhou DDG

Jiangwei II FF

Fuqing AOR

Tuqiang ATA-721

East: Miyako

West: Miyako

June 2009 North Sea Fleet Luzhou DDG-116

Jiangwei II F-527

Jiangwei II FF-528

Fuqing AOR-881

Tuqiang ATA-721

East: Miyako

West Miyako
15

China Moves Out

Two destroyers and a supply ship passed through the Miyako Channel, passing east of Taiwan 

and then back west through the Bashi Channel, where they joined the two frigates west of 

Taiwan. The flotilla then returned to Qingdao on May 11.42 In the second exercise, a flotilla of 

four North Sea Fleet destroyers and a frigate departed Qingdao on May 18. They took the same 

route as the first flotilla and returned to Qingdao on May 27. 43 These exercises were monitored 

by military forces from several nations, which created a “true and complex maritime navigation 

and air electronic environment.”44

 Chinese military papers described several of the training objectives and achievements 

of these North Sea Fleet deployments. New breakthroughs were made in aspects of electronic 

warfare, information warfare, and coordinated operations, while the exercise was an opportunity for the PLAN to conduct “combat” in unfamiliar waters and to “break through the 

submarine blockade.” 45

Japanese and Russian commentators described the deployments as training for Taiwan 

contingencies. Primary objectives were disrupting the U.S. dispatch of forces stationed in Okinawa and Guam in support of Taiwan, and for the PLAN to become more familiar with Taiwan’s 

major east coast naval and air bases.46 By transiting along strategic approaches the U.S. Navy 

might use to intervene in a Taiwan contingency, the PLAN expanded its operating areas and 

familiarized itself with locations that could be used to deny or delay the ability of the U.S. Navy 

to intervene.

The PLAN continued to expand its operations in the Western Pacific in 2008. Rather than 

relying exclusively on the Miyako Channel to access the Philippine Sea, the PLAN began to use 

different straits to reach waters beyond the first island chain (see figure 2). On October 19, 2008, 

a Sovremenny destroyer, two frigates, and an oiler sailed east through the Tsugaru Strait while 

circumnavigating Japan.47

Then on November 2, a Luzhou destroyer, a frigate, an oiler, and an ocean-going tug 

transited the Miyako Channel to the Philippine Sea. This marked the first time a Luzhou DD 

had been observed operating in the Philippine Sea.48 The Miyako Channel was again used 

when a Luzhou-class destroyer, two frigates, an oiler, and an ocean-going tug sailed to the 

Philippine Sea in June 2009.49 Observations by the Japanese Maritime Self Defense Forces indicated the PLAN vessels remained close together but appeared to conduct “seemingly separate maneuvers.” 50

These Western Pacific operations enhanced the PLAN ability to operate in unfamiliar waters and helped to develop logistics and command and control systems. They also illustrated an 

emphasis on diversifying the types and classes of ships that deploy to the Western Pacific. The 
16 

China Strategic Perspectives, No. 9

execution of these operations further enhances the PLAN ability to execute near seas active 

defense and improve capabilities that are also germane to new historic missions. 

In addition to operations in the Western Pacific, the PLAN continued to improve interoperability with other services for Taiwan contingencies. From September 3–6, 2007, the 

PLAN participated in an exercise called Lianhe-2007 (Joint-2007).51 The exercise was organized by the Jinan Military Region and conducted in the vicinity of the Shandong Peninsula. 

According to Chinese television reports, the objective was to explore standardized methods 

for organizing joint operations during an emergency and coordinating under conditions of 

informatization. 52 Xinhua press agency reported the exercise goal was to “enhance joint intelligence acquisition, joint command and control, joint fire power strikes, joint electronic 

confrontation, joint actions of forces, and joint support and reinforcement.”53 Hong Kong 

reporting, however, indicated the exercise focused on the second wave of landing operations 

Figure 2. 2004–2009 PLAN Western Pacific Chokepoint Transits

MIYAKO

BASHI

TAIWAN

TSUGARU
17

China Moves Out

and the final stage for “liberating Taiwan,” with all PLAN targets having actual Taiwan place 

names and ship pennant numbers.54

 If those reports are accurate, the exercise is notable because it illustrates increasing realism 

in PLAN training as well as improvements in interoperability with other services. When this 

exercise is juxtaposed with more frequent deployments to the Western Pacific, however, it suggests a continued evolution and improvement in PLAN capabilities to execute near seas active 

defense more generally, as the lessons learned are applicable to several potential missions in the 

near seas. 

Counterpiracy Deployments

PLAN counterpiracy deployments to the Gulf of Aden began in December 2008 and are 

part of its new historic missions to protect Chinese maritime interests.55 These far seas missions require the capability to replenish at sea, conduct intra–task force resupply, perform 

long-distance navigation, demonstrate formation-keeping with competent seamanship, and 

operate in all weather conditions—skills that are also applicable to near seas missions.56 While 

these deployments enhance PLAN capabilities to operate in the far seas, they contribute little 

to the navy’s ability to defend China. The lessons the PLAN learns from these deployments, 

however, contribute to basic proficiencies it must master as a prerequisite to defending China 

in the far seas. 

Briefly highlighting some of the PLAN training events used to prepare for these far seas 

missions illustrates how these skills are applicable to far seas defense missions while also enhancing PLAN near seas active defense capabilities. 

Improving PLAN logistics capabilities is one of the most important requirements for executing missions in the far seas. In July 2008, the Chinese military newspaper highlighted the 

PLAN successfully resupplying two different classes of ships simultaneously.57 The article described refueling ships stationed aft and abreast of the supply ship in an “informatized” environment. The capability to resupply different classes of ships allows the PLAN to dispatch and 

resupply mixed classes of ships to the Gulf of Aden. It also provides for greater flexibility of 

PLAN contingency operations in the near seas. 

Another example of PLAN far seas mission training that is relevant to near seas contingencies was a December 2008 antiterror exercise by an East Sea Fleet helicopter regiment. Exercise 

objectives were maritime patrol, salvage, cross decking via helicopter, firefighting, and freeing 

hostages.58 The exercise had direct applicability to skills the PLAN needed to master for its upcoming counterpiracy deployment to the Gulf of Aden, but counterterrorism training is also 
18 

China Strategic Perspectives, No. 9

germane to a myriad of possible contingencies in the near seas, such as an oil platform takedown or a terrorist attack against a ship near China’s coast. 

Similarly, the PLAN conducted a proof-of-concept deployment to Pakistan in 2007 to participate in multinational exercise Peace 07. The East Sea Fleet ships that participated in the 

exercise deployed to Pakistan without replenishing food stores, although they did take on fuel.59

Press reporting on the deployment indicates it was a test to see how the crew would fare during 

a long deployment. While such knowledge is useful in preparing for protracted deployments 

such as counterpiracy missions, it also helped the PLAN learn how long its crews can go without provisioning, thereby enhancing understanding of wartime requirements for contingencies 

in the near seas. 

2009 Outline for Military Training and Evaluation

One of the ways the PLAN improved its near seas active defense capabilities during this 

period was through joint training with the other services. The 2009 OMTE published by the 

PLA General Staff Department on January 1, 2009, emphasized interoperability.60 Examples of 

PLAN participation in joint interoperability exercises during this period include Joint Operation 2009, an exercise involving all three services as well as the People’s Armed Police and local 

governments that included military-civilian integration.61

Similarly, the Vanguard-2009 exercise was dedicated to advancing joint capabilities and 

included observers from all services. This exercise reportedly marked the “first time” the PLAN 

engaged in joint operations planning, joint command control, joint intelligence processing, 

and joint combat decisionmaking under conditions of “informatization.”62 PLAN exercises and 

training in response to OMTE requirements help it to improve its near seas defense capabilities 

by enhancing interoperability with the other services. 

Normalization of Western Pacific Deployments: 2010–2012

The PLAN continued to bolster its confidence in executing blue water operations in the 

Western Pacific during the 3-year period from 2010 through the end of 2012. Not only did the 

PLAN further diversify the straits used to access the Western Pacific, it also continued mixing 

the classes of ships that participated in blue water training. The increase in the number of ships 

dispatched to the Western Pacific meant that ship captains with various levels of expertise were 

operating in the vicinity of foreign navies, which resulted in ships inadvertently violating international norms, standards, rules, and laws. 
19

China Moves Out

Frequent deployments to the Western Pacific during this 3-year period contributed to 

growing international angst over PLAN lack of transparency, as well as concerns about the messages PLAN naval operations were sending. The combination of increased frequency of Western Pacific operations and foreign pressure appears to have influenced PLAN transparency. By 

the end of 2012, the PLAN appeared much more confident in its Western Pacific operations, to 

a point where official Chinese press reports viewed PLAN deployments to the Western Pacific 

as “normalized.”

Increased Frequency of Western Pacific Deployments

The PLAN diversified access routes to the Pacific Ocean from 2010 to 2012. While the 

Miyako was the most frequently used channel, the PLAN also used the Osumi Channel and 

the Yonaguni Channel for the first time (see figure 3). The diversification of access routes to the 

Figure 3. 2010–2012 PLAN Western Pacific Chokepoint Transits

MIYAKO

BASHI

TAIWAN

YONAGUNI

OSUMI
20 

China Strategic Perspectives, No. 9

Pacific provides navigation options for the PLAN as it routinizes training for near seas active 

defense in the Western Pacific. 

Three PLAN ships, including a Luzhou-class destroyer, transited east through the Osumi 

Channel in April 2012. According to the 2013 Japanese Defense White Paper, this transit was 

the first use of the Osumi Channel by the PLAN since a Ming-class submarine transited it in 

November 2003.63 Four PLAN vessels transited north through the Yonaguni Channel in October 2012 and as they transited back into the East China Sea passed within 80 kilometers of the 

largest of the Diaoyu Islands. 64 The use of the Yonaguni Channel came one month after Japan 

nationalized these islands, suggesting this particular transit was a signal of Chinese displeasure 

over Japan’s actions. 

The PLAN conducted what at the time was its largest deployment of ships and submarines 

to the Western Pacific in April 2010. The flotilla of eight ships and two submarines from the 

Chinese East Sea Fleet transited the Miyako Channel with the submarines surfaced and the 

Chinese national flag flying.65 The scope of this deployment alarmed many in Tokyo, prompting 

the Japanese Defense Minister to state that he “would decide on measures to take after closely 

evaluating whether the act had some intent directed toward Japan.”66

Whether this deployment should be perceived as a “signal” is open to interpretation. While 

it was the largest exercise for the PLAN in the Philippine Sea, it followed a series of deployments 

to that sea by groups of four to six surface ships. The increased number of ships coupled with 

the inclusion of two submarines appears to have been more of an evolutionary step of PLAN 

Philippine Sea deployments than a deliberate signal. 

Exercise complexity continued to increase during this period. Whereas Philippine Sea deployments during 2007 through 2009 involved single-dimensional (that is, surface ship against 

surface ship) exercises, those conducted from 2010 through 2012 evolved into being multidimensional (that is, a more complex exercise where a surface ship must address threats from the 

air, surface, and subsurface). The April 2010 deployment of East Sea Fleet units to the Philippine 

Sea included two diesel submarines. Approximately one year later, a flotilla of 11 PLAN units 

including two submarines deployed through the Miyako Channel to the Philippine Sea (see 

table 2).67 Inclusion of submarines allows the PLAN to rehearse disciplines of antisubmarine 

warfare and antisurface warfare in unfamiliar waters.

The PLAN also added an airborne dimension to its exercises, as helicopter flight operations 

were observed during several of the deployments to the Western Pacific.68 Training with helicopters 

enhances several disciplines, including antisurface and antisubmarine warfare, command, control, 

communications, computers, and intelligence (C4I), and logistics. In addition to more frequent use 
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China Moves Out

Table 2. 2010–2012 PLAN Operations in the Western Pacific

Approximate Date Fleet PLAN Vessels Strait/Channel

March 2010 North Sea Fleet Six vessels, including 

Luzhou DDG

East: Miyako

West: Bashi

April 2010 East Sea Fleet 8 surface ships

2 submarines

East: Miyako

West: Miyako

July 2010 North Sea Fleet Luzhou DDG

Unidentified FF

East: Miyako

West: Miyako

June 2011 East Sea Fleet 11 vessels, including

Sovremenny DDG

Jiangkai II FF

Unidentified ASR

Unidentified AGI

2 submarines

East: Miyako

West: Miyako

November 2011 North Sea Fleet Luzhou DDG

Luhu DD

Jiangwei II FF

Jiangkai II FF

Dadie AGI

Fuqing AOR

East: Miyako

West: Miyako

January 2012 North Sea Fleet Luhu DD-113

Jiangkai II FF-538

Unidentified AGI

East: Osumi

West: Miyako*

February 2012 East Sea Fleet Jiangkai II FF-549

Jiangwei II FF-521

Jiangwei II FF-522

Jiangwei I FF-542

East: Miyako

West: Miyako

May 3, 2012 East Sea Fleet 3 vessels, including

Jiangkai II FF-530

Dongdiao AGI-851

East: Osumi

West: Miyako

May 2012 South Sea Fleet* 5 vessels, including

Luyang DDG

Yuzhao LPD

East: Bashi*

West: Bashi*

June 2012 North Sea Fleet 3 vessels, including

Luzhou DDG

East: Osumi

West: Miyako*

October 2012 North Sea Fleet 7 ships, including

Luhu DD-112

Luzhou DDG-116

East: Miyako

West: Miyako

October 2012 Not reported 2 Luyang DD

1 Jiangkai FF

1 unidentified ship

East: Miyako*

North: Yonaguni
22 

China Strategic Perspectives, No. 9

of helicopters in exercises, the PLAN integrated unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) into at least one 

of its exercises in the Philippine Sea.69 Depending on how they are employed, UAVs can enhance all 

warfare disciplines. Conducting exercises with helicopters, UAVs, and submarines highlights the 

continued evolution of PLAN capabilities to execute near seas active defense.70

Learning by Being More Transparent

As the PLAN sent more ships to the Philippine Sea for training, it frequently interacted 

with JMSDF ships and aircraft. The force routinely provides information about these interactions up the chain of command, enabling the Japanese Defense Ministry to quickly report when 

there are interactions of interest to the Japanese populace. While the majority of defense ministry reports simply detail the location of Chinese ships or what they are doing while operating 

Approximate Date Fleet PLAN Vessels Strait/Channel

November–

December 2012

East Sea Fleet Sovremenny DDG-136

Sovremenny DDG-139

Jiangkai II FF-529

Jiangkai II FF-525

Fuqing AOR-882

East: Miyako

North: Yonaguni

Table 2. 2010–2012 PLAN Operations in the Western Pacific, cont.

*Not specified in press sources, but assessed based on location.

Key: DD, DDG: destroyer; AOR: auxiliary oiler replenishment; F, FF: frigate; ASR: submarine rescue 

ship; AGI: auxiliary general intelligence; LPD: amphibious transport dock

Sources: “Chinese Fleet’s Flag Waving in Miyako Channel is Not Act of Intimidation,” Tokyo Mainichi 

Daily News; The Defense of Japan, 2012, 2013, and 2014 editions; “Chinese Navy Ships Pass Through 

International Waters Near Okinawa,” Kyodo World Service, July 4, 2010; “11 Chinese Naval Ships 

Cross High Seas Between Okinawa Islands in 2 Days,” Kyodo World Service, June 9, 2011; “News 

Watch 9” [ニュースウオッチ9], NHK, television program, June 22, 2011; Joint Staff Office, Japan 

Ministry of Defense [防衛省统合幕僚监部], “Concerning the Movements of Chinese Naval Fleets” 

[中国海軍艦艇の動向について], November 23, 2011; Yin Hang, “PLA Navy ‘Qingdao’ and ‘Yantai’ 

Warships to Set Sail for Training Mission,” PLA Daily, January 30, 2012; “Three Chinese Warships 

Sail Through Kagoshima Strait,” Yomiuri Shimbun; “PLA Sorties Threaten Encirclement,” Taipei 

Times Online, February 9, 2012; “Chinese Navy Fleet Passes Through Osumi-kaikyo Strait,” CCTV 

Online, May 3, 2012; “7 Chinese Warships Sail off Okinawa Pref. Island Amid Senkaku Spat,” Kyodo 

World Service, October 4, 2012; Wang Xiaodong, “Navy Completes Military Exercise in the Pacific,” 

China Daily, November 1, 2012; “Japan Claims Three Chinese Warships Sail Toward Okinawa; 

Chinese Defense Ministry Responds That It Is Justifiable and Legal” [日本称中国三艘军舰向冲

绳方向行驶 中国国防部回应:正当合法], China News Agency [中国通讯社], October 23, 2012; 

“Chinese Navy to Conduct Blue Water Training Regularly,” People’s Daily, December 14, 2012; 

“Beijing Opens Up Over Naval Manoeuvres,” South China Morning Post, November 29, 2012; Jane’s 

Sentinel Security Assessment—China and Northeast Asia.
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in the vicinity of Japan, there are periodic reports of Chinese ship captains or helicopter pilots 

violating international norms.

 In contrast, the PLA spokesmen remained relatively tight-lipped on PLAN activities unless circumstances necessitated an official response. From 2010 through 2012, reports of poor 

PLAN behavior frequently put Chinese official spokesmen on the defensive because they found 

themselves responding to allegations or criticism without the opportunity to shape the public 

affairs response to Japanese published reports. Moreover, the lack of Chinese reporting about 

its frequent deployments to the Philippine Sea perpetuated concerns about PLA operations 

because it demonstrated a lack of Chinese transparency. China’s slow response to Japanese criticism following close helicopter approaches to JMSDF ships in 2010, as well as persistent Japanese press reports of Chinese ships transiting near Japan’s islands, may have prompted a change 

in the way the PLAN reports its activities; by the end of 2012, the PLA was releasing information much more frequently on Chinese exercises in the Philippine Sea.

Two close PLAN helicopter approaches to JMSDF ships during the April 2010 deployment 

of PLAN vessels to the Philippine Sea prompted official Japanese criticism of Chinese operations. The first incident occurred when a PLAN helicopter came within 90 meters horizontally 

and 30 meters vertically of the JMSDF destroyer Suzinami on April 8.71 Two weeks later, on 

April 21, a PLAN helicopter circled the JMSDF destroyer Asayuki, closing to 90 meters horizontally and 50 meters vertically.72 The similarities and close succession of the two incidents 

prompted a Japanese official demarche in which Tokyo demanded Beijing acknowledge them 

and take action to prevent similar future incidents.73

China’s response to these incidents came from the Chinese defense ministry spokesman, 

who stated on April 22 that “military training on the waters of the high seas complies with international law. . . . Relevant parties should not make subjective conjectures and wild guesses, 

much less take any drastic action to track and disturb . . . the Chinese naval vessels which are in 

regular training.”74 The “subjective conjectures and wild guesses” statement referenced Japanese 

press reports suggesting the PLAN deployment of eight ships and two surfaced submarines to 

the Philippine Sea was saber rattling directed at Japan.

 These two helicopter interactions illustrate PLA delays in responding to Japanese criticism. Following the first incident on April 8, Japanese media reported PLAN actions as “provocative,” with no official Chinese response. Following the second incident, numerous Japanese 

press articles criticized Chinese activities. The official Chinese Ministry of National Defense 

response came one day after the second helicopter interaction, but simply referencing Chinese 

compliance with international law did little to assuage Japanese concerns. 
24 

China Strategic Perspectives, No. 9

Japanese media reported more actively on the PLAN deployments to and exercises in the 

Western Pacific as those events became more commonplace. During the period 2010 through 

2012, the Japanese media reported on almost every Chinese deployment and exercise in the 

Western Pacific. China lagged behind Japanese reporting, however, perpetuating the perception of a lack of Chinese transparency. Japanese press began reporting on the PLAN’s June 2011 

deployment of 11 ships to the Philippine Sea on June 8.75 One day later, China’s Ministry of 

National Defense issued a press release saying the PLAN would conduct training in the Western 

Pacific from mid- to late July.76 Chinese unofficial media even noted that the timing of China’s 

press release “came after some Japanese media published reports expressing fears over recent 

moves by Chinese navy vessels in international waters close to Japanese territory.” 77

Similarly, the Japanese defense ministry published photographs of six PLAN vessels transiting the Miyako Strait on November 23. Later that day, the Chinese defense ministry stated it 

would be conducting drills in the Western Pacific as part of “an annual, planned routine drill. 

It is not directed at any specific country and is keeping with relevant international laws.”78 The 

quick Chinese response to Japanese press reports suggests the PLA had a statement prepared 

for release knowing that Japan would be reporting on the military activity, and may indicate the 

PLA was becoming more savvy in its public affairs posture. 

The media battle over perceptions of Chinese transparency and the continued slowness in 

Chinese press reporting about its exercises continued until late 2012. The PLA appears to have 

changed its public affairs approach in November 2012. Rather than waiting for Japanese media 

reports about its activities, the PLA began to announce PLAN exercises in the Western Pacific 

prior to PLAN ships reaching the Miyako Channel.79 At a November 29, 2012, news conference, 

for example, the Ministry of National Defense spokesman stated, without apparent Japanese 

press prompting, “Five warships of the East Sea Fleet . . . sailed through the Miyako Strait into 

the Western Pacific and carried out blue water training on November 28, 2012.”80 Hong Kong’s 

press recognized this apparent shift in the PLA public affairs posture, saying the official statement by the PLA was “a rare departure from past practice that suggests Beijing is improving its 

military transparency.”81 This apparent PLA shift to more openly commenting on PLAN activities continued into 2013 and 2014, with the PLA providing more timely reporting on deployments to the Western Pacific.

PLA “transparency” is a double-edged sword. While official Chinese press provided few 

details about PLAN deployments to the Western Pacific from 2007 through 2012 and appeared 

to wait to report on its activities until Japanese reports surfaced, the PLA has reported more 

liberally since the end of 2012. This change has had the effect of appearing to indicate a dramatic 
25

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increase in PLAN navy exercises and operations in the Western Pacific starting at the end of 

2012. Looking at the trend of PLAN deployments to the Western Pacific since 2007, however, 

suggests a more gradual evolution of its deployments (see tables 1 and 2). Japan’s control over 

the public affairs narrative coupled with perpetuation of perceptions of a Chinese threat and 

lack of PLAN transparency appear to have been key factors in prompting more open Chinese 

reporting.

Stepping Stones Toward Far Seas Defense: 2013–2014

The PLAN increased the frequency and complexity of its deployments to the Western 

Pacific from 2013 through 2014. During this 2-year period, it integrated fixed-wing aircraft 

into Philippine Sea exercises and executed the first Western Pacific exercise that simultaneously involved all three fleets. Not only did the PLAN “normalize” its Philippine Sea deployments, it also conducted its first surface ship deployment to the Indian Ocean outside of Gulf 

of Aden counterpiracy operations. The Indian Ocean does not fall under the near seas defense 

rubric, which could suggest the deployment represents nascent PLAN efforts to apply the lessons learned from its routinized operations in the near seas to development of a far seas defense 

capability. In addition, the PLA appears to have refined how and when it published press articles 

on major Western Pacific deployments by the end of 2014.

Normalized PLAN Deployments to the Western Pacific

PLAN officials were claiming they had “normalized open-sea training” by the end of 

2012.82 The frequency of PLAN deployments to the Western Pacific suggests the navy leadership’s growing confidence in its ability to execute deployments as well as in enhanced PLAN 

capabilities.83

For instance, fixed-wing PLAN aircraft were integrated into operations in the Philippine 

Sea in 2013–2014. In July and September 2013, a Y-8 surveillance aircraft and an H-6 bomber 

flew within international airspace over the Miyako Channel; two Y-8s and two H-6s flew the 

same route over 3 consecutive days in October 2013, and one Y-8 and two H-6s flew the same 

route in March 2014.84 During a mid-December 2014 “Ocean Going Exercise,” four iterations of 

PLAN H-6 maritime strike-capable bombers and both Y-8 and Y-9 reconnaissance aircraft flew 

south of Okinawa as part of a multifleet exercise in the Western Pacific.85

Each time the aircraft flew to the Philippine Sea, Chinese surface combatants were conducting exercises in the area (see table 3). While details of the interaction between ships and 

aircraft were not reported in the press, aircraft–surface ship operations were likely conducted. 

(Continued on page 28)
26 

China Strategic Perspectives, No. 9

Table 3. 2013–2014 PLAN Operations in the Western Pacific

Approximate Date Fleet Surface Ships Strait/Channel

January–February 

2013

North Sea Fleet Luhu DD-113

Jiangkai II FF-538

Jiangkai II FF-546

East: Miyako

West: Bashi

March–April 2013 South Sea Fleet Yuzhao LPD-999 

Luyang II DDG-170 

Jiangkai II FF-569 

Jiangkai II FF-572

East: Bashi

West: Bashi

April 2013 South Sea Fleet Luyang II DDG-170 

Jiangkai II FF-572

East: Bashi

West: Miyako

May 2013 East Sea Fleet Jiangwei II FF-566 

Jianghu I FF-559 

Fuchi AOR-886

East: Miyako

West: Bashi

May–June 2013 North Sea Fleet Luhu DD-113 

Jiangkai II FF-547 

Fuqing AOR-881

East: Miyako

West: Osumi 

July 2013 North Sea Fleet Luzhou DDG-115 

Luzhou DDG-116 

Jiangkai II FF-546 

Jiangkai II FF-538 

Fuqing AOR-881

East: La Perouse 

West: Miyako

27 August–10

September 2013

East Sea Fleet Jiangkai II FF-548 

Jiangkai II FF-549

East: Miyako 

North: Yonaguni

October 2013

Exercise Mobility-5 

North Sea Fleet Luzhou DDG-116 

Luzhou DDG-115 

Luhu DD-113

Jiangkai II FF-547 

Jiangkai II FF-538

East: Miyako

West: Miyako

October 2013

Exercise Mobility-5

East Sea Fleet Jiangkai II FF-529 

Jiangkai II FF-530

East: Miyako 

North: Yonaguni

October 2013

Exercise Mobility-5

South Sea Fleet Luyang I DDG-168 

Jiangkai II FF-570 

Fuchi AOR-887

East: Bashi

West: Bashi

December 2013 South Sea Fleet Jiangkai II FF-570 

Jiangkai II FF-571 

Fuchi AOR-887

East: Bashi*

West: Bashi*

January–February 

2014

South Sea Fleet Yuzhao LPD-989 

Luyang II DDG-171 

Luyang I DDG-169

South: Sunda 

North: Lombok 

East: Bashi

West: Miyako
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February–March 2014 East Sea Fleet Luyang II DDG-150 

Jiangkai II FF-548 

Jiangkai II FF-549 

Fuchi AOR-890

East: Miyako 

North: Yonaguni

May–June 2014

Training Cruise

North Sea Fleet Jiangkai II FF-550 

Daxin AXT-81

East: Miyako 

North: Indonesian 

Straits

June 2014 East Sea Fleet Jiangwei II FF-528 

Jiangwei II FF-565 

Fuqing AOR-881

East: Miyako

West: Osumi

July 2014 North Sea Fleet Jiangkai II FF-546 

Jiangwei II FF-527 

Fuchi AOR-889

East: Not reported 

West: Miyako

December 2014

Ocean Going Exercise

North Sea Fleet Luzhou DDG-116

Luhu DD-112

Jiangkai II FF-538 

Jiangkai II FF-546

Fuchi AOR-889

East: Osumi

West: La Perouse

December 2014

Ocean Going Exercise

East Sea Fleet Luyang II DDG-151 

Sovremenny DDG-138

Jiangwei II FF-521 

Jiangkai II FF-548

Fuchi AOR-886

Dongdiao AGI-851

East: Miyako* 

West: Miyako

December 2014

Ocean Going Exercise

South Sea Fleet Not reported East: Bashi*

West: Bashi*

Table 3. 2013–2014 PLAN Operations in the Western Pacific, cont.

Approximate Date Fleet Surface Ships Strait/Channel

*Not specified in press sources, but assessed based on location.

Key: DD, DDG: destroyer; AOR: auxiliary oiler replenishment; F, FF: frigate; ASR: submarine rescue 

ship; AGI: auxiliary general intelligence; LPD: amphibious transport dock; AXT: navigation training ship

Sources: The Defense of Japan 2014; Yu Li, “Chinese Fleet Returns After Training in West Pacific,” 

CCTV Online, February 16, 2013; Zhao Lei, “Navy Begins Patrol-Training Mission,” China Daily, 

March 20, 2013; “(Update 2) 2 Chinese Warships Patrol near Senkakus,” Jiji Press, April 17, 2013; 

“Chinese Navy Continues High-Sea Training,” PLA Daily, April 15, 2013; “East China Sea Fleet 

Successfully Completes High-Sea Training Mission,” PLA Daily, May 22, 2013; “PLA Navy Fleet 

Enters W Pacific for Training,” Xinhua, May 27, 2013; “Chinese Warships Sail to West Pacific for 

Open-sea Training,” PLA Daily, July 16, 2013; Li Xiaokun, “China Sails Through ‘First Island 

Chain’”; “PLAN Taskforce Enters Western Pacific for Training,” PLA Daily, August 29, 2014; “China 

Active in East China Sea,” NHK, September 10, 2013; Andrew Berglund, Maneuver-5 Exercise 

Focuses on Improving Distant Seas Combat Capabilities (Washington, DC: U.S.-China Economic 

and Security Review Commission [USCC], December 16, 2013); “UPDATE 1: 5 Chinese Naval 

Vessels Sail Outside Japanese Waters Near Okinawa,” Kyodo World Service, October 29, 2013; Japan 
28 

China Strategic Perspectives, No. 9

Joint Staff Office [統合幕僚監部], “Trends of China Naval Vessels” [中国海軍艦艇の動向につい

て], December 23, 2013, February 8, 2014, December 4, 2014, December 13, 2014, December 14, 

2014, and December 25, 2014; China’s Navy Extends Its Combat Reach to the Indian Ocean, Staff 

Report (Washington, DC: USCC, March 14, 2014); “PLAN’s Open-Sea Training Taskforce Completes 

Training Mission,” PLA Daily, March 12, 2014; “Chinese Navy Starts Distant Water Training,” China 

Daily, May 1, 2014; Li Tang and Gao Yi, “Navy: Routine Patrol Coverage of the Long Sea Frontier”; 

“Chinese Warships Tailed After by Japanese Ships and Planes Again,” PLA Daily, June 24, 2014; 

Zhang Tao, ed., “Why PLA Keeps Low Profile about Exercise in Western Pacific?”; and Jane’s Sentinel 

Security Assessment–China and Northeast Asia.

Such training allows the PLAN to improve exercise realism and enhances tactical disciplines 

germane to both near and far seas operations such as antiair warfare, antisurface warfare, and 

C4I. Such disciplines are especially important to PLAN operations in the far seas due to the 

diversity of threats as compared to training in the near seas where the PLAN routinely interacts 

with the same Japanese or U.S. Navy platforms.

PLAN Strategic Messaging

Several PLAN deployments to the Western Pacific during 2013–2014 were notable 

due to their apparent strategic messaging. Two ships, Jiangkai II FF-572 and Luyang II 

DDG-170, departed Sanya and transited the Bashi Channel in April 2013. The two ships 

had just returned from a deployment to the Philippine Sea a week previously, so this transit 

followed a quick one-week turnaround. According to the official Chinese press, the two 

ships then passed west through the Miyako Channel and operated near the Diaoyu/Senkaku Islands on April 17.86 That date coincided with the anniversary of the signing of the 

Treaty of Shimonseki, which marked the end of the Sino-Japanese War and China’s forced 

ceding of Taiwan and its adjacent islands to Japan. Japan maintains that this agreement 

included the Diaoyu/Senkaku Islands. The atypical route of these ships, coupled with their 

short turnaround in homeport, indicates that the operation was a signal to Japan of China’s 

resolve on the island dispute. 

Then, during a late August 2013 deployment to the Philippine Sea, two East Sea Fleet 

ships reentered the East China Sea through the Yonaguni Strait, which is in close proximity to 

the Diaoyu/Senkakus. The timing of the transit, which coincided with the 2012 anniversary of 

(Continued from page 25)
29

China Moves Out

Japan’s nationalization of the Senkakus, seems again to be a signal of China’s resolve. While the 

Yonaguni Strait had been used previously by the PLAN, it is not the normal route when transiting from the Philippine to the East China Sea (see figure 4). 

A third likely signal to Japan came from PLAN utilization of the La Perouse Strait following a bilateral exercise with the Russian Navy. Five PLAN ships transited east through the La 

Perouse Strait and circumnavigated Japan rather than using a direct route and transiting back 

through the Sea of Japan to their North Sea Fleet homeport following the Vladivostok-based 

exercise.87 This deployment illustrates an expansion of SLOCs used by the PLAN to access the 

Western Pacific; more significantly, Chinese Navy officials referred to the transit as “cutting the 

Figure 4. 2013–2014 PLAN Western Pacific Chokepoint Transits

MIYAKO

BASHI

TAIWAN

YONAGUNI

OSUMI

LA PEROUSE
30 

China Strategic Perspectives, No. 9

first island chain into little pieces.”88 What all three of these deployments have in common is that 

the ships did not follow their normal routes to or from the Philippine Sea, suggesting that future 

route deviations could serve as indicators of Chinese naval strategic messaging.

Evolving PLAN Deployments: From Near Seas Toward Far Seas Defense

Perhaps the most notable western PLAN deployment during this 2-year period was 

its Mobility-5 exercise in October 2013. This was the first time the navy conducted coordinated combat drills in the Western Pacific involving ships from all three fleets and PLAN 

fixed-wing aircraft.89 According to the PLAN South Sea Fleet commander, the exercise 

focused on:

Building the capability of distant-sea combat systems under conditions of 

informatization. In this exercise, importance was attached to exploring major 

and challenging problems related to the building of distant-sea combat systems, 

reconnaissance and early warning, target identification and guidance, longdistance defense penetration conducted by aviation forces, and vessel-aircraft 

coordination in carrying out ocean-based anti-submarine operations.90

A focus of the exercise was “back-to-back” drills in which opposing forces did not know 

the plans or intentions of the opposing force.91 PLAN officials state they want to use back-to 

back training in exercises because “troops should be trained according to how wars are fought.”92

While this concept is a notable improvement in exercises—Mobility-5 was more complex than 

previous PLAN exercises in the Philippine Sea—it was also the first time all three fleets came 

together in the Philippine Sea for an exercise, suggesting the PLAN continues to work toward 

improving its near seas defense capabilities. 

Another noteworthy event during this period involved three PLAN ships deploying in 

January 2014 through the South China Sea into the eastern Indian Ocean, considered to be the 

far seas. 93 The three ships departed Sanya on a 23-day patrol, during which they sailed nearly 

8,000 nautical miles operating near the Paracel Islands, Spratly Islands, and James Shoal and 

passing through the Sunda, Lombok, and Makassar straits94 (see figure 5). While the ships were 

in the Indian Ocean, Yuzhao LPD-989 simulated an electronic warfare attack and drilled against 

notional “enemy” airplanes and submarines.95 In addition, the three ships “carried out more 

than 10 combat-realistic training tasks, including the anti-pirate, joint search and rescue, antinuclear and anti-chemical contamination, and damage control tasks.”96
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China Moves Out

Chinese press covered this deployment extensively, referring to the operation as a “combat 

readiness patrol.” This terminology is important because it is normally reserved for PLAN patrols in the near seas. A combat readiness patrol that included antisubmarine warfare training 

in the Indian Ocean suggests the PLAN is beginning to extend its combat capabilities out from 

the near seas and operationalize a far seas defense doctrine. 

A third noteworthy deployment during this period was the simultaneous deployment of 

elements from all three fleets to the Western Pacific for a tri-fleet exercise in December 2014. 

This was the second time all three fleets exercised together in the Western Pacific; the purpose 

was to “improve the navy’s abilities of long-range maneuver, far sea defense combat, remote 

command and control, reconnaissance and early-warning, and test and enhance the performance of weaponry and equipment.” The deployment consisted of a mix of destroyers and frigates and included surface, air, and underwater training.97 In addition to the integration of longrange PLAN fixed-wing aviation in this exercise, the inclusion of underwater training suggests 

this was a three-dimensional exercise including the participation of PLAN submarines.98

The importance of this exercise is that it perpetuated several of the trends observed in previous PLAN Western Pacific exercises and that it has implications for how the PLAN will operationalize far seas defense. The exercise continued to emphasize combined frigate and destroyer 

surface action groups transiting through diverse chokepoints. Similarly, the coordination between 

Figure 5. 2013–2014 PLAN Indian Ocean Chokepoint Transits

MAKASSAR

SUNDA

LOMBOK
32 

China Strategic Perspectives, No. 9

elements of all three fleets further enhanced standardization of multidiscipline training across the 

PLAN. In addition, the inclusion of fixed-wing aircraft demonstrates growing PLAN confidence 

and proficiency in integrating its aircraft into exercises several hundred miles from the PRC coast. 

While these disciplines are germane to PLAN operations in the near seas, they also suggest how 

the PLAN will operate in the far seas. 

Although the location of the exercise was not specified, PLA press referred to it as being in 

the Western Pacific. The Japan Joint Staff Office reported PLAN aircraft flew south of Okinawa 

to an area northeast of the Philippine island of Luzon. 99 These aircraft were likely part of the 

exercise, and their reported location suggests the exercise occurred in the near seas.This makes 

the PLA reference to the exercise objective of improving PLAN “far sea defense combat” noteworthy. It suggests Western Pacific exercises are a laboratory to enhance PLAN capabilities and 

tactics for future far seas defense missions.

China’s Western Pacific Transparency Strategy

By the end of 2014, China appeared to have refined its Western Pacific transparency strategy. Although the PLAN continued the trend of increasing transparency on its major Western 

Pacific deployments, it began to calibrate its volume of reporting on Western Pacific exercises 

to mitigate concerns over Chinese military capabilities. Increased transparency regarding the 

December 2014 exercise was evidenced by Chinese military press publicizing PLAN intent to 

deploy ships from all three fleets to the Western Pacific days before the ships had reached sensitive chokepoints, as well as PLA press specifying this exercise was the final (emphasis added) 

PLAN training of the year.100 Moreover, PLA press immediately confirmed Japanese reports 

identifying specific PLAN ships or aircraft transiting to or from the Western Pacific. 

Conversely, the Chinese press deliberately withheld some details about this exercise. For 

example, PLA press did not identify which South Sea Fleet units participated in the tri-fleet 

exercise. Because Japanese press did not publish any articles identifying the participating units, 

the Chinese press did not draw undue attention to this exercise by publishing articles highlighting specifics of South Sea Fleet participation. Similarly, the Chinese press limited reporting on 

this exercise by withholding reporting on tactical details of the exercise “based on diplomatic 

considerations.” Chinese military press amplified the rationale to limit reports, stating:

The surrounding situations around China have become increasingly complicated, 

the China-Japan, China-Philippines and China-Vietnam relations are highly 

sensitive, and there is also the more important U.S. factor behind them. Analysts 
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China Moves Out

held that China’s decision to carry out this exercise without publicity is based 

on considerations for national interests, so that there will be no excuse for other 

countries to hype up the “China threat” theory.101

Explicitly limiting publicity about this Western Pacific exercise suggests China’s “transparency 

strategy” had evolved from how China first reported about its deployments to the Western Pacific starting in November 2011.

By the end of 2014, China’s transparency strategy appeared to be to preempt Japanese reporting on significant PLAN exercises in the Western Pacific by announcing the exercise prior 

to PLAN deployments and subsequently to limit PLA reporting to confirmations of Japanese 

factual reports (such as the identification of specific PLAN ships). If Japanese media does not 

report on the details of the exercise or participating units, the Chinese press will follow suit and 

withhold information to mitigate potential regional concerns over PLAN Western Pacific exercises. Should the Japanese press publish stories about PLAN exercises that may be considered 

alarmist or indicate a growing Chinese threat, China would counter these reports through the 

official military spokesman or in PLA press. By the end of 2014, the PLA believed its evolving Western Pacific exercise transparency strategy was achieving the desired result of reducing 

Japanese press hype over PLAN deployments through the first island chain.102

Indicators of a Maritime Strategy that Includes Far Seas Defense

Chinese official press reports indicate how the PLAN intends to operationalize far seas 

defense. PLA transparency has improved as a result of its expanding operations, which helps alleviate perceptions of a Chinese threat, while also highlighting PLAN operations to its domestic 

audience. In particular, China appears to have learned to be prepared to shape the public affairs 

narrative about its deployments by disseminating its public affairs message early in a deployment to mitigate potential foreign concerns. The Chinese press frequently reported on the operational and tactical details of the January 2014 three-ship deployment to the eastern Indian 

Ocean and its 2013 Mobility-5 exercise and calibrated its reporting on details of the Western 

Pacific December 2014 exercise. 

 Reporting similar to that observed during the 2013–2014 deployments is an example of 

the press coverage that the PLA will employ during future far seas defense missions. More regular references to PLAN ships conducting “combat readiness patrols” in the far seas will indicate 

the operationalization of far seas defense, but the PLAN is likely to withhold tactical details 

about these deployments to mitigate regional concerns. 
34 

China Strategic Perspectives, No. 9

Another indicator of far seas defense operationalization comes from examining the trend of 

PLAN deployments to the far seas. The navy’s approach to its Western Pacific operations between 

2007 and 2014 was gradually to increase their number, frequency, and complexity, in part to increase 

the number of ship captains with experience in the Western Pacific and the far seas. PLAN lessons 

from combat readiness patrols in the Western Pacific and its Gulf of Aden deployments are applicable to combat readiness patrols in the far seas, but there is no replacement for actual experience 

gained by more ship captains conducting combat readiness patrols in the far seas. 

Increased emphasis on PLAN logistics is another indication the PLAN is beginning to 

operationalize far seas defense missions. Surface ship deployments to the Western Pacific 

since 2007 frequently have included a logistics support ship. While the PLAN has demonstrated a capability to deploy for weeks at a time to the Western Pacific without oiler support, 

more frequent deployments to the far seas will require additional logistics support capabilities. An aggressive logistics ship-building program would further indicate increased far seas 

defense operations.103

Fixed-wing reconnaissance aircraft have been integrated into several Western Pacific 

PLAN deployments since 2013. While aircraft may provide intelligence support for PLAN 

ships operating in the near seas, PLAN operations in the far seas are beyond the operational 

range of mainland-based aircraft. Space-based reconnaissance assets can fill this potential 

Chinese intelligence gap. Increased numbers of Chinese satellites would be another indication of PLAN far seas defense operationalization.

Just as the formal implementation of near seas defense in 1993 necessitated PLAN modernization to develop platforms and capabilities to operate further from shore, far seas defense 

capabilities will require restructuring, reallocation, and continued force modernization. PLAN 

missions in the near seas can range from a simple security patrol in the Yellow Sea to a mission as complex as supporting a Taiwan contingency or even a limited conflict with Japan over 

the Diaoyu/Senkaku issue. The diversity and importance of near seas requirements suggest the 

PLAN will allocate the majority of its naval fleet to support near seas defense. 

 Far seas missions will be even more diverse, possibly including SLOC protection, counterpiracy, reconnaissance, operating at strategic chokepoints, and force projection. Far seas missions require 

larger combatants able to sustain heavier seas for protracted periods of time. One potential PLAN 

approach might be to use smaller combatants and patrol boats to fulfill routine near seas missions, 

thereby freeing larger PLAN combatants to pursue more frequent far seas operations. Since 2012, 

the PLAN has been undergoing an aggressive construction program of Jiangdao-class light frigates, 

which are well equipped for missions in the near seas within the first island chain to include security 
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China Moves Out

patrols in the near seas, Diaoyu/Senkaku Island patrols, or Spratly Island patrols.104 One indicator 

the PLAN has decided to pursue more frequent far seas defense missions might be these smaller 

combatants assuming some of the mission requirements from larger combatants.

Another indicator of PLAN operationalization of the far seas defense is the construction 

of icebreakers. China’s distant strategic economic interests may drive it to develop additional 

2004–2006 2007–2009 2010–2012 2013–2014

Western Pacific 

Deployments

None Single fleet 

(2–12 ships, 

submarines)

Single fleet 

(2–12 ships, 

submarines)

Multifleet (2–10+ 

ships)

Sea Lines of 

Communication/

Strait 

Chokepoints

Taiwan Tsugaru

Miyako

Bashi

Taiwan

Osumi

Miyako

Yonaguni

Taiwan

Bashi

Yonaguni

La Perouse

Osumi

Miyako

Gashi

Taiwan

Indonesian Straits

Discipline Logistics, 

naval fleet 

tactics, 

techniques, 

and 

procedures

Onedimensional 

(surface) 

(scripted)

Multidimensional 

(surface, 

submarine, air) 

(scripted)

Multidimensional 

(surface, 

submarine, air) 

(back to back)

Location Near seas Western Pacific Western Pacific Western Pacific 

Indian Ocean

Air Integration Air defense Air defense Unmanned aerial 

vehicle/helicopter

Fixed wing

Informatization Command 

and control/

common 

operating 

picture

All exercises 

and 

deployments 

Lianhe-2007

All exercises and 

deployments

All exercises and 

deployments 

Mobility-5

Signaling Chunxiao 

(Japan)

Dongshan 

(Taiwan)

Hong Kong

Taiwan Taiwan

Senkaku (Japan)

Scarborough 

(Philippines)

James Shoal 

(Malaysia)

Taiwan

Senkaku (Japan)

Scarborough 

(Philippines)

James Shoal 

(Malaysia)

Table 4. Evolution of PLAN Western Pacific Deployments
36 

China Strategic Perspectives, No. 9

icebreaker capabilities to support increased Chinese commercial shipping through the Arctic 

Northern Sea Route. The Northern Sea Route as an avenue for goods or resources between Europe and China shortens the distance by several thousand nautical miles, thereby cutting down 

the expense of trade. The Arctic waters will become more navigable for Chinese commercial 

shipping as the polar ice cap continues to melt. China currently has the largest conventionally 

powered icebreaker in the world, the Xue Long, and is building a second icebreaker of similar 

size.105 A further increase in China’s icebreaker-building program or subordination of the Xue 

Long to the PLAN might suggest that China is more actively pursuing far seas defense capabilities in the Arctic. 

Conclusion

The PLAN continues to refine and enhance the capabilities and tactics necessary to execute China’s near seas active defense strategy. At the same time, there is a political impetus for 

the PLAN to operationalize far seas defense capabilities as part of an emerging new maritime 

strategy. The normalization of PLAN operations in the Western Pacific, along with years of 

counterpiracy deployments to the Gulf of Aden as part of the new historic missions, has given 

the PLAN the requisite experience, confidence, and proficiency to defend China through the 

operationalization of far seas defense capabilities. 

Table 4 summarizes the evolution of PLAN deployments to the Western Pacific since 

2004. This table demonstrates a deliberate and methodical approach to normalizing PLAN 

Western Pacific deployments. It traces PLAN progress from single fleet and single-dimensional scripted exercises in the Western Pacific to multifleet coordinated, unscripted training 

involving submarines, surface ships, UAVs, and fixed-wing aircraft. It illustrates a gradual 

increase from a few ships conducting deployments to as many as 12 ships and submarines deploying simultaneously. The table also summarizes PLAN trends in signaling and the steady 

expansion of chokepoints used by PLAN ships to access the near seas and highlights the 

growing complexity of informatization over time. Following normalization of Western Pacific 

deployments at the end of 2012, the PLAN began to expand its combat readiness patrols into 

the Indian Ocean far seas. 

The strategic framework that underpins China’s near seas active defense strategy suggests 

the PLAN will extend operations to the far seas to protect Chinese national interests. Near-term 

incorporation of far seas defense is consistent with PLAN stated goals, assumptions, and objectives, making it a timely addition to China’s current maritime strategy. Operating in the near 

seas to defend China will continue to be the most important role for the PLAN, but over time 
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the PLAN will allocate additional resources to the far seas to protect economic and military interests. Evaluating the characteristics of how the PLAN normalized its Western Pacific deployments serves as a model for how it will integrate the concept of far seas defense into its existing 

near seas defense maritime strategy.

A review of the composition of surface action groups deploying to the Western Pacific 

since 2007 indicates a majority of the deployments included a mix of destroyers and frigates. 

Destroyers provide the PLAN with potent antiair warfare and antisurface warfare capabilities, 

while the frigates complement the destroyer’s antisurface capabilities. Both destroyers and frigates leverage embarked helicopters to enhance their antisubmarine capabilities. This suggests 

the operationalization of far seas defense will consist of the deployment of surface action groups 

that provide maximum flexibility to address ever-changing mission objectives. As compared to 

missions in the near seas, far seas missions must have greater mission flexibility because of the 

transit distances associated with operating farther from China. This mix of platforms deploying 

together to the far seas will likely include a submarine. In September 2014, the PLAN deployed 

a submarine to the Indian Ocean, suggesting that nuclear submarines capable of remaining 

submerged throughout a deployment are a viable adjunct of far seas missions; recent reporting 

indicates a second PLAN submarine conducted a port visit to Sri Lanka in November 2014.106

PLAN operations in the near seas over the last decade have included political signaling, 

suggesting the PLAN will be used for this mission as part of a strategy that includes far seas 

defense. Signaling includes PLAN ships operating in the vicinity of China’s interests and simultaneously publicizing these operations. 

The PLAN has signaled Taiwan to influence domestic elections, Japan over disputed territory, and Hong Kong over domestic policies. Future PLAN operations in the far seas may well 

operate closer to foreign sovereign territory when the PRC wants to signal displeasure over a 

policy counter to China’s interests. Examples might include PLAN operations in the vicinity of 

India to signal PRC displeasure over competing land border claims, operations north of Australia should Beijing see Canberra’s China policy as unduly critical, or combatant operations 

in closer proximity to Guam or other U.S. territories in the central Pacific to signal displeasure 

over U.S. policies toward China.

The PLA-wide emphasis on informatization over the last decade suggests PLAN far seas 

missions will operate with enhanced C4ISR capabilities. PLAN ships deploying to the far seas 

will possess robust communications capabilities and will be linked through relatively rapid information flow across and up the chain of command. In addition, when ships deploy to the 

far seas, they will conduct various multidiscipline drills in accordance with OMTE training 
38 

China Strategic Perspectives, No. 9

requirements. While the majority of these training drills are likely to be exclusively focused on 

navy-specific disciplines, OMTE emphasis on joint training suggests some far seas missions 

could include training with PLA Air Force assets conducting long-range coordinated training.

Just as the PLAN incrementally expanded the complexity and scope of its operations in 

the Western Pacific over the last decade, it is likely to gradually increase the frequency of far 

seas combat readiness patrol deployments. Such an approach would suggest that over the next 

5 to 7 years, we are likely to see an increase in mixed-platform PLAN surface action groups 

rehearsing a myriad of combat warfare disciplines during deployments to the far seas, such as 

antisubmarine, antiair, and antisurface warfare exercises. These combat readiness patrols may 

include deployments along various strategic SLOCs in the Pacific, chokepoints in the Indian 

Ocean, and perhaps even to the northern Pacific to support China’s Arctic commercial interests. 

Over the last decade, the PLAN has taken numerous routes to access the Western Pacific, 

and the Chinese press has highlighted the PLAN “shattering” of the first island chain through 

use of multiple SLOCs and chokepoints. In addition to transiting through chokepoints in the 

near seas, the January 2014 three-ship flotilla that operated in the eastern Indian Ocean transited the Sunda, Lombok, and Makassar Straits. Operations within SLOCs or near strategic 

chokepoints are consistent with PLAN guidance to protect China’s economic interests, which 

must use SLOCs for China’s imports of oil and other commodities. Hence, future far seas operations likely will regularly patrol along SLOCs and near strategic chokepoints. 

Patrolling along distant sea lines of communication or near strategic chokepoints achieves 

two objectives. It helps to protect Chinese economic interests that transit strategic straits and 

has a deterrent effect of placing Chinese combatants along potential routes that could be used 

by the U.S. Navy to intervene in a conflict involving China. In addition to more routinized operations in the far seas lines of communications of the Malacca, Makassar, and Lombok straits, 

China’s interest in the use of the Northern Sea Route could drive far seas operations to the 

Northern Pacific. In addition, far seas defense missions may prompt the PLAN to station ships 

along strategic approaches traditionally used by the U.S. Navy in the Pacific to deny or delay U.S. 

intervention in contingencies involving China.

Indications that the PLAN is aggressively looking to operationalize far seas defense missions include Jiangdao light frigates assuming a greater responsibility for missions traditionally 

assigned to larger PLAN combatants within the first island chain, construction of icebreakers, 

active reporting on distant sea operations in official Chinese press, a gradual increase in the frequency of deployments, additional space-based reconnaissance assets, and the PLAN enhancing its logistic capabilities. 
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The volume of data on Chinese navy operations and exercises continues to grow. Each 

PLAN exercise or deployment yields new insights into capabilities the PLAN is working to master and raises questions of China’s strategic intent. Patterns and implications begin to emerge 

when deployments to the Western Pacific are methodically examined over time. These patterns 

help our understanding of how the PLAN will operationalize far seas defense and may help to 

clarify the intent of its deployments. China is likely to pursue far seas defense missions over the 

next several years and may integrate far seas defense into its existing near seas defense strategy, 

yielding a new maritime strategy altogether. While each flotilla deployment will add to the “data 

glut” as identified by Admiral Becker, understanding how these deployments fit into a PLAN 

model for operationalizing deployments to unfamiliar waters may help to close the corresponding “information deficit” on China’s maritime strategic intent.
40 

China Strategic Perspectives, No. 9

Notes 1 Shannon Tiezzi, “Why Spying on China Isn’t Enough,” The Diplomat, September 23, 2014, 

available at <http://thediplomat.com/2014/09/why-spying-on-china-isnt-enough/>.

2 According to the memoirs of Liu Huaqing, China’s navy commander from 1982 to 1988, 

“all the sea areas beyond the ‘near seas’ are ‘middle and far seas’ [zhongyuanhai, 中远海].” Therefore, the sea areas and maritime space beyond the outer rims of the second island can be interpreted as the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) definition of “far seas.” This large expanse 

of ocean stretches from the northwest Pacific to the Indian Ocean. See Liu Huaqing [刘华清], Liu 

Huaqing’s Memoirs [刘华清回忆录] (Beijing: PLA Press [解放军出版社], 2004), 434, as cited in 

Nan Li, “The Evolution of China’s Naval Strategy and Capabilities: From ‘Near Coast’ and ‘Near 

Seas’ to ‘Far Seas,’” Asian Security 5, no. 2 (May 2009), 144–169. 

3 近海 is often translated as “offshore.” But “offshore” does not convey the relative distance the 

Chinese term intends to express. Just as the Near East, Middle East, and Far East are translated as 近

东,中东, and 远东, near seas, middle seas, and far seas are translated as 近海, 中海, and 远海. Near 

seas defense is couched in the notion of “defend actively, operate in the near seas” [jiji fangyu, jinhai 

zuozhan, 积极防御,近海作战]. See Nan Li, 144–169. 

4 Office of Naval Intelligence (ONI), A Modern Navy with Chinese Characteristics (Washington, 

DC: Office of Naval Intelligence, 2013), 9.

5 Huo Xiaoyong, ed., The Science of Service Strategy (Beijing: National Defense University Press, 

2006), 242, as cited in Thomas Bickford, Heidi A. Holz, and Frederic Vellucci, Jr., Uncertain Waters

(Alexandria, VA: CNA Corporation, 2011), 28–29. 

6 Liu Huaqing, Liu Huaqing’s Memoirs, 432, 434, 437, as cited in Nan Li, 150.

7 Ibid. 

8 David M. Finkelstein, “China’s Military Strategy: An Overview of the ‘Military Strategic 

Guidelines,’” in Right-Sizing the People’s Liberation Army: Exploring the Contours of China’s Military, ed. 

Roy Kamphausen and Andrew Scobell (Carlisle, PA: Strategic Studies Institute, 2007). See also Nan Li, 

144–169. 

9 Finkelstein.

10 Xu Qi, “Maritime Geostrategy and the Development of the Chinese Navy in the Early 

Twenty-First Century,” trans. Lyle Goldstein and Andrew Erickson, Naval War College Review 59, no. 4 

(Autumn 2006), 47–67, as cited in Bickford, Holz, and Vellucci, 14. 

11 Some argue the 1995–1996 Taiwan crisis drove PLAN modernization efforts. While the crisis 

was likely was a factor in PLAN modernization, the Main Strategic Direction predated the crisis and 

likely served as an initial catalyst for modernization.

12 ONI, 8.

13 Ibid., 7. 

14 Bickford, Holz, and Vellucci, 17. 

15 Information Office of the State Council, People’s Republic of China, China’s National Defense 

in 2006 (Beijing: Information Office of the State Council, December 29, 2006); China’s National Defense 

in 2008 (January 20, 2009); and China’s National Defense in 2010 (March 31, 2011).
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China Moves Out

16 Information Office of the State Council, People’s Republic of China, The Diversified Employment of China’s Armed Forces (Beijing: Information Office of the State Council, April 16, 2013), sec. 2. 

17 “China and Northeast Asia: China > NAVY,” Jane’s Sentinel Security Assessment, September 

24, 2014. 

18 See Ye Xinrong and Zuo Liping, “Strategic Reflections Regarding the March of the Navy from 

the Near Seas to the Far Seas,” Military Art Journal, no. 10 (2004), 30–33, as cited in Nan Li, 144–169.

19 See “Military Drill on Fujian’s Dongshan Island with 20,000 Officers and Soldiers” [福建

東山島2萬官兵軍演], Ming Pao [明報], June 16, 2004; and “An Anti-Taiwan-Independence Military 

Exercise Starts on Dongshan Island with the Aim of Seizing Air Supremacy” [反台獨軍演東山島開操

練制空攻堅], Tai Yang Pao [太陽報], July 16, 2014.

20 “Dongshan Island Unusually Calm on Eve of War Exercise” [軍演前夕東山島異常平靜], 

Wen Wei Po [文匯報], July 3, 2004.

21 “An Anti-Taiwan-Independence Military Exercise Starts,” Tai Yang Pao. 

22 “Large-Scale Armed Police Participation in Taiwan Strait Military Exercise; Focus on Airborne Landing Training, Raising Three-dimensional Combat Capabilities” [武警大規模參與臺海軍演

重點演練機降 提升立體戰力], Hong Kong Shang Pao [香港商報], July 3, 2004.

23 “An Anti-Taiwan-Independence Military Exercise Starts,” Tai Yang Pao.

24 Marcal Joahilho, “PLA Plans Biggest Naval Visit,” The Standard, April 23, 2004.

25 “Dongshan Island Unusually Calm on Eve of War Exercise,” Wen Wei Po.

26 Chris Acheson, “Disputed Claims in the East China Sea: An Interview with James Manicom,” 

National Bureau of Asian Research, July 25, 2011, available at <www.nbr.org/research/activity.aspx?id=159>. 

27 “Advanced PRC Destroyers Spotted near Disputed Gas Fields in East China Sea” [東シナ海

のガス田海域に中国軍新鋭艦], Yomiuri Shimbun [読売新聞], January 25, 2005. 

28 “PLA 21 Sep Begins Large-scale 3-day Sea-Land-Air Live-Fire Exercise in Guangdong,” 

China News Service [中国通讯社], September 22, 2005. 

29 Joe McReynolds and James Mulvenon, “The Role of Informatization in the People’s Liberation Army Under Hu Jintao,” in Assessing the People’s Liberation Army in the Hu Jintao Era, ed. Roy 

Kamphausen, David Lai, and Travis Tanner (Carlisle, PA: Strategic Studies Institute, 2014), 211.

30 Ibid., 216. 

31 Ibid., 214.

32 Ibid., 215.

33 “President Hu Requires Military Training to Move Toward Informatization Transformation,” 

Xinhua, June 28, 2006, as cited in McReynolds and Mulvenon, 216.

34 “Informatized Command System Substantially Increases PLA Navy’s Combat Capability,” 

Xinhua Domestic Service, November 28, 2006. 

35 Cai Nianchi [蔡年迟], “Destroyer Qingdao’s Equipment Safe and Sound in Ocean-Crossing 

Foreign Trip of Over 40 Days” [青岛舰跨洋出访 40 余天装备安然无恙], PLA Daily [解放军报], 

October 8, 2006. 

36 In 1963, the U.S. Navy implemented a standardized process of planning, scheduling, and accomplishing preventative maintenance on all systems to prevent them from malfunctioning at sea. See 

Anthony Ruffini, The Standard Navy Maintenance and Material Management System (3-M): Its Status 
42 

China Strategic Perspectives, No. 9

and Application, Association of Senior Engineers, Bureau of Ships (April 1968), available at <www.dtic.

mil/dtic/tr/fulltext/u2/630822.pdf>. 

37 “PLA Exercise Makes Pincer Attack on Taiwan; Two Major Fleets Sent; ‘Chance Encounter’ 

with Kitty Hawk” [解放軍演習夾擊台灣; 「兩大艦隊出動; 巧遇」小鷹號], Ming Pao [明報], November 24, 2007. 

38 “China Show of Strength Ups Military Ante,” Asia Times, November 30, 2007, available at 

<www.atimes.com/atimes/China/IL01Ad02.html>.

39 Ibid.

40 “PLA Navy’s South Sea Fleet Conducted Real-Troop, Real-Equipment and Live-Fire Exercise 

to Temper Elite Force” [海军南海舰队实兵实装实弹演练砺精兵], Xinhua Online [新华网], November 19, 2007.

41 For context, it is important to note that this exercise occurred during a time when the Taiwan Legislative Yuan was debating military budgets and deciding on what military items to purchase 

from the United States and came 2 months before the January 2008 Taiwan legislative election, which 

included two referenda on United Nations membership for Taiwan—viewed by Beijing as another step 

toward independence.

42 “China Deploys Naval Fleet in the Water off Taiwan’s East Coast” [中国、台湾東沖に艦隊

4~5月、有事備え訓練か「実力誇示」の見方も], Asahi Shimbun [朝日新聞], August 27, 2007. 

43 Ibid.

44 Wang Songqi [王松岐], “I Go with the Formation Rushing the Ocean—Observations of 

a PLA Pictorial Special Reporter Going with a North Sea Fleet Ship Formation on a Long-Distance 

Navigation Training” [我随编队闯大洋 - 本报特约记者随北海舰队舰艇编队远航训练见闻], PLA 

Pictorial [解放军画报], September 7–15, 2007. 

45 Ibid.

46 “China Deploys Naval Fleet in the Water off Taiwan’s East Coast,” Asahi Shimbun.

47 “Chinese Vessels Pass Tsugaru Strait from Tsushima,” [中国海軍新型艦など対馬から津軽

を通過], Asagumo [朝雲], October 23, 2008.

48 Sato Ken [佐藤賢], “PLA Naval Activities Becoming Brisker; Going From Coastal Waters 

into the Pacific; Missions Becoming Diversified, Including Disaster Relief ” [中国海軍、活動活発

に、近海から太平洋へ、災害救助など、任務も多様化.], Nihon Keizai Shimbun [日本経済新聞], 

November 17, 2008.

49 “Chinese Vessels Drilling in the Pacific?” [太平洋側で訓練か], Asagumo [朝雲], July 2, 2009.

50 Ibid.

51 “Military Report” [军事报道], CCTV-7, television program, September 3–6, 2007. 

52 Ibid.

53 Zhang Yuqing and Zhang Julong [张玉清, 张君龙], “Jinan Military Region’s ‘Lianhe-2008’ 

Research Purposed Field Drill Is Unveiled” [济南军区联合-2008研究性实兵演习拉开序幕], Xinhua 

[新华], September 19, 2008.

54 “Beijing Plans Small Showdown, Make Minor Adjustments to Central Military Commission, 

and Resume Dongshan Island Exercise to Curb Taiwan Independence Prior to Olympic Games” [遏台

獨奧運前擬小攤牌中央軍委小變動 恢愎東山島演習], Ming Pao [明報], October 2, 2007.
43

China Moves Out

55 The nature and frequency of PLAN counterpiracy deployments are well documented by others. See Andrew Erickson and Justin Strange, No Substitute for Experience, China Maritime Studies 10 

(Newport, RI: China Maritime Studies Institute, November 2013), available at <https://www.usnwc.edu/

Research---Gaming/China-Maritime-Studies-Institute/Publications/documents/CMS10_Web_2.aspx>. 

56 Christopher D. Yung et al., China’s Out of Area Naval Operations: Case Studies, Trajectories, Obstacles, and Potential Solutions, China Strategic Perspectives 3 (Washington, DC: NDU Press, 

2010), 3.

57 Wang Yi and Fang Lihua, “Simultaneous Replenishment for Different Types of Vessels Realized,” PLA Daily, July 31, 2008.

58 Wang Shijun, “Joint Anti-Terror Exercise at Sea,” PLA Daily, December 15, 2008.

59 Dai Feng and Cai Nianchi [代烽, 蔡年迟], “Thoughts After Exercise—Written on Our 

Naval Vessel Team’s Homebound Voyage” [演习过后的思考-写在我海军舰艇编队返航途中], PLA 

Daily [解放军报], March 28, 2007.

60 Bernard D. Cole, “China’s Navy Prepares: Domestic Exercises 2000–2010,” in Learning by 

Doing: The PLA Trains at Home and Abroad, ed. Roy Kamphausen, David Lai, and Travis Tanner (Carlisle, PA: Strategic Studies Institute, 2012), 24–27. 

61 Li Yun and Liu Feng’an, “Learn How to Fight Battles in Exercise Analysis of PLA’s Training 

Reform from Military Exercises in 2009 (II),” PLA Daily, December 15, 2009.

62 Cole, 26.

63 Japan Ministry of Defense, The Defense of Japan 2013, 41. The Defense White Paper contradicts Japanese press reporting from earlier in 2012, which indicated two frigates and an intelligence 

collection ship sailed through the Osumi Channel 2 months earlier. See “Three Chinese Warships Sail 

Through Kagoshima Strait,” Yomiuri Shimbun, February 5, 2012, available at <www.asianewsnet.net/

news-30114.html>. 

64 Ibid. 

65 Ibid.; and “Chinese Fleet’s Flag Waving in Miyako Channel is Not Act of Intimidation,” Tokyo 

Mainichi Daily News, April 30, 2010.

66 Kentaro Kawaguchi, “Japan Gets Jitters on China Navy,” Asahi Shimbun, April 14, 2010.

67 The Defense of Japan 2013. 

68 Hideki Kawasaki and Toshimitsu Miyai, “China Actions Due to Government Weakness,” 

Daily Yomiuri Online, April 30, 2010.

69 Hanzawa Naohisa [半沢尚久], “Dangerous ‘High Waves’ in East China Sea—PRC Introduces Unmanned Aircraft, Normalizes Blue-Water Naval Exercises” [東シナ海、危険な“高波” 無人機投

入 常態化する遠洋訓練], Sankei Shimbun [産経新聞], June 24, 2011.

70 While training is a step toward mastering a capability, repeated training on the same discipline over time is necessary before such capabilities are actualized.

71 Hideki Kawasaki and Toshimitsu Miyai, “China Actions Due to Government Weakness.” 

Thirty meters of altitude is approximately the height on the mast on top of a ship’s superstructure, and 

the close proximity can interfere with navigation and is inconsistent with routine interactions at sea 

between helicopters and ships.

72 Ibid.
44 

China Strategic Perspectives, No. 9

73 Ibid.

74 Luo Zheng [罗铮], “Regular Training on the High Seas Organized by the Chinese Navy 

Poses No Threat to Other Countries” [中国海军在公海组织正常训练对别国不构成威胁], PLA Daily 

[解放军报], April 23, 2010. 

75 “Update 1: China Navy Vessels Cross High Seas Between Okinawa Islands,” Kyodo World 

Service, June 8, 2011.

76 Li Zhen, Li Yong, and Sun Wei, “Navy Fleet to Hold Drill in West Pacific,” Global Times, June 

10, 2011.

77 Ibid.

78 “China Says It Will Conduct Naval Drills in Pacific,” Asahi Japan Watch, November 23, 2011.

79 “Three Fleets of PLAN Sail to Western Pacific for Drill,” PLA Daily Online, December 5, 

2014, available at <http://eng.chinamil.com.cn/news-channels/china-military-news/2014-12/05/content_6257336.htm>.

80 Li Xiaowei, “PLA Naval Fleet to Continue Blue Water Training,” PLA Daily, November 30, 

2012.

81 “Beijing Opens Up Over Naval Manoeuvres,” South China Morning Post, November 29, 2012, 

available at <www.scmp.com/news/china/article/1093362/beijing-opens-over-naval-manoeuvres>. 

82 Sun Yanxin and Ju Zhenhua, “Chinese Navy Normalizes Open-Sea Training,” PLA Daily, 

December 12, 2012.

83 According to one PLA report, the PLAN dispatched a total of 66 ships in 19 batches from 

2012 to 2013 and that “on average every year it sends several hundred ships on combat readiness patrols 

and dispatches several hundred sorties of aircraft.” See Li Tang and Gao Yi [李唐, 高毅], “Navy: Routine Patrol Coverage of the Long Sea Frontier” [海军: 常态化巡逻覆盖万里海疆], PLA Daily [解放军

报], June 21, 2014. 

84 The Defense of Japan 2013. 

85 See Zhang Tao, ed., “Why PLA Keeps Low Profile about Exercise in Western Pacific?” China Military Online, December 17, 2014, available at <http://eng.mod.gov.cn/DefenseNews/2014-12/17/

content_4558426.htm>; and Japan Joint Staff Office [統合幕僚監部], “Regarding Flight of Chinese 

Aircraft in the East China Sea” [中国機の東シナ海における飛行について], press release, December 10, 2014, available at <www.mod.go.jp/js/Press/press2014/press_pdf/p20141210_01.pdf>. 

86 Hou Chen [侯晨], “Expert Says That the Purpose of the Naval Distant Sea Training Formation’s Cruise in the Waters Off the Diaoyu Islands Was to Get Familiar With the Relevant Area of 

the East Sea” [海军远海训练编队钓鱼岛海域巡航专家:为熟悉东海海区], China Radio International [中国国际广播电台], April 17, 2013. 

87 Li Xiaokun, “China Sails Through First Island Chain,” China Daily, August 2, 2013. 

88 Ibid.

89 Andrew Berglund, Maneuver-5 Exercise Focuses on Improving Distant Seas Combat Capabilities (Washington, DC: U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission, December 16, 2013), 2.

90 Bai Ruixue, Gao Yi, and Wang Dong [白瑞雪, 高毅, 王栋], “If We Run Swiftly in Small 

Steps, the Many Small Successes We Have Achieved Will Add Up to a Big One” [小步快跑,就能积小

胜为大胜], Liaowang [瞭望] no. 42 (November 7, 2013). 
45

China Moves Out

91 Berglund, 4.

92 Bai Ruixue, Gao Yi, and Wang Dong. 

93 Nan Li, “The Evolution of China’s Naval Strategy and Capabilities,” 150.

94 Qian Xiaohu, Gao Yi, and Gan Jun [钱晓虎, 高毅, 甘俊], “Sharpening the Troops in Two 

Oceans—Scenes During the Navy’s First High Seas War Preparedness Patrol Training of the New Year” 

[砺兵两大洋—海军新年度首次战备巡逻远海训练掠影], PLA Daily [解放军报], February 19, 2014.

95 China’s Navy Extends Its Combat Reach to the Indian Ocean, Staff Report (Washington, DC: 

U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission, March 14, 2014), 4.

96 Qian Xiaohu and Gao Yi [钱晓虎, 高毅], “The Distant Sea Training Formation of the South 

Sea Fleet Sailed Into the Waters of the Western Pacific Ocean and Continued to Carry out Combatrealistic Training” [南海舰队远海训练编队进入西太平洋继续开展实战化训练], China Navy Online 

[中国海军网], February 3, 2014.

97 “Three Fleets of PLAN Sail to Western Pacific for Drill,” PLA Daily Online.

98 “Five Chinese warplanes monitored by Japan,” PLA Daily Online, December 8, 2014, available at <http://eng.mod.gov.cn/DefenseNews/2014-12/08/content_4556374.htm>. 

99 Japan Joint Staff Office [統合幕僚監部], “Regarding Flights of Chinese Aircraft in the East 

China Sea” [中国機の東シナ海における飛行について], December 11, 2014, available at <www.

mod.go.jp/js/Press/press2014/press_pdf/p20141211_02.pdf>. 

100 See Zhao Jun, “The Chinese Navy’s Open Sea Exercise Is Reasonable,” CCTV Online, December 11, 2014, available at <http://english.cntv.cn/2014/12/11/ARTI1418289820026193.shtml>; and 

“Three Fleets of PLAN Sail to Western Pacific for Drill,” PLA Daily Online.

101 Zhang Tao, ed., “Why PLA Keeps Low Profile about Exercise in Western Pacific?”

102 “Three Fleets of PLAN Sail to Western Pacific for Drill,” PLA Daily Online.

103 Recent photos of a new PLAN logistics ship online indicate the PLAN is beginning to address the requirement for additional logistics capabilities. See Chris Luo, “Photos of Navy’s New Supply 

Ship Leaked Online,” South China Morning Post, September 29, 2014, available at <www.scmp.com/

news/china-insider/article/1603975/photos-chinese-militarys-mystery-navy-ship-leaked-online>.

104 According to GlobalSecurity.org, 10 of the 20 planned Jiangdiao frigate/corvettes (FFLs) 

have been launched since 2012. Global Security reports indicate there could be as many as 30 Jiangdiao 

FFLs planned. See “JIANGDIAO Type 056 Frigate,” GlobalSecurity.org, available at <www.globalsecurity.

org/military/world/china/jiangdao-ships.htm>. 

105 Sherman Lai and Joel J. Sokolsky, “A New Dimension in Sino-American Security,” Bulletin of 

International Studies on the Polar Region 3, no. 3 (September 2014), 8.

106 The PLA spokesman reported a PLAN submarine conducted a port visit to Sri Lanka on 

September 15, 2014. See Ministry of National Defense, People’s Republic of China, “Press Conference,” 

September 25, 2014; and “Chinese Submarine Docks at Sri Lanka,” Colombo Gazette, November 2, 2014, 

available at <http://colombogazette.com/2014/11/02/chinese-submarine-docks-in-sri-lanka/>. 

47

China Moves Out

About the Author

Commander Christopher H. Sharman is a Navy officer studying at the National War College. He was selected as a member of the inaugural cohort of U.S. Pacific Command Scholars 

at National Defense University in 2014–2015. Commander Sharman has worked on strategic, 

operational, and tactical East Asia issues for most of his career, including positions at Seventh 

Fleet headquarters in Yokosuka, Japan; as Assistant Navy Attaché in Beijing; on the staff aboard 

the USS Kitty Hawk; and deployed with the USS Independence Carrier Strike Group off the coast 

of Taiwan in March 1996. He has attended the Defense Language Institute for Japanese and 

Chinese language training. Commander Sharman holds a master’s degree in National Security 

Affairs (Asia Studies) from the Naval Postgraduate School and a bachelor’s degree in Political 

Science from the University of California, San Diego. He has been selected for promotion to the 

rank of Navy captain.

Acknowledgments

I want to thank my advisors and mentors—both past and present—within the Navy, former military attachés, and at the National Defense University. In particular I appreciate the support, encouragement, and well-directed critiques of Bernard D. Cole, Phillip C. Saunders, Leah 

Bray, Ken Allen, and Dennis J. Blasko that contributed to the writing of this paper. My thanks 

also go to Drew Casey for his thorough research support and excellent language skills, and to 

Masanori Ono and Masayuki Masuda their for assistance with some Japanese sources. Most of 

all my thanks go to my wife Gigi and two children, Kate and Caleb, for their patience and support. They have trekked around the world with me gracefully, embracing every new adventure.



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