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  • About RSIS
      IntroductionBuilding the FoundationsWelcome MessageBoard of GovernorsHonours and Awards for RSIS Staff and StudentsRSIS Endowment FundEndowed ProfessorshipsCareer OpportunitiesGetting to RSIS
      Staff ProfilesExecutive Deputy Chairman’s OfficeDean’s OfficeManagementDistinguished FellowsFaculty and ResearchAssociate Research Fellows, Senior Analysts and Research AnalystsVisiting FellowsAdjunct FellowsAdministrative Staff
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      Research ProgrammesNational Security Studies Programme (NSSP)Studies in Inter-Religious Relations in Plural Societies (SRP) Programme
      Future Issues and Technology ClusterResearch@RSIS Newsletter
      Other ResearchScience and Technology Studies Programme (STSP) (2017-2020)
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    WP030 | Reconceptualizing the PLA Navy in Post – Mao China: Functions, Warfare, Arms, and Organization
    Nan Li

    01 August 2002

    download pdf

    Abstract

    This paper examines the major changes regarding the Chinese Navy (PLAN, or the
    People’s Liberation Army Navy) between the pre-1985 period and the post-1985 period. It
    shows that major conceptual changes have taken place to the PLAN’s functions, warfare,
    arms, and organization since 1985. On functions, rather than the pre-1985 emphasis on
    protecting continental territory through resisting aggression by a singular adversary
    against China’s coastlines, the new emphasis has been placed on defending maritime
    territory and interests against multiple potential adversaries away from China’s shore. On
    warfare, instead of the pre-1985 stress on the defensive counter-amphibious landing
    operations, the new emphasis has been placed on capturing and sustaining sea control for
    the offensive amphibious landing operations. On naval arms, rather than the old stress on
    the defensive, short range, and more numerous light ships, new emphasis has been placed
    on developing fewer but better quality, longer range, and multi-role capital ships capable
    of offensive operations. On organization, unlike the old focus on the land-based command
    and control, manpower, and dispersion, the new stress has shifted to ship-based command
    and control and technology-based integration. In the meantime, major obstacles still exist
    for the new concepts to be fully translated into reality.

    Categories: Working Papers /

    Last updated on 01/07/2014

    Abstract

    This paper examines the major changes regarding the Chinese Navy (PLAN, or the
    People’s Liberation Army Navy) between the pre-1985 period and the post-1985 period. It
    shows that major conceptual changes have taken place to the PLAN’s functions, warfare,
    arms, and organization since 1985. On functions, rather than the pre-1985 emphasis on
    protecting continental territory through resisting aggression by a singular adversary
    against China’s coastlines, the new emphasis has been placed on defending maritime
    territory and interests against multiple potential adversaries away from China’s shore. On
    warfare, instead of the pre-1985 stress on the defensive counter-amphibious landing
    operations, the new emphasis has been placed on capturing and sustaining sea control for
    the offensive amphibious landing operations. On naval arms, rather than the old stress on
    the defensive, short range, and more numerous light ships, new emphasis has been placed
    on developing fewer but better quality, longer range, and multi-role capital ships capable
    of offensive operations. On organization, unlike the old focus on the land-based command
    and control, manpower, and dispersion, the new stress has shifted to ship-based command
    and control and technology-based integration. In the meantime, major obstacles still exist
    for the new concepts to be fully translated into reality.

    Categories: Working Papers

    Last updated on 01/07/2014

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