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PLAN Looks beyond Taiwan 171
PLAN Looks beyond Taiwan
LANG, Ning-li
Abstract
China’s military modernization has changed the People’s Liberation Army (PLA)
thoroughly, its navy and air force in particular. The PLA Navy (PLAN) and the PLA Air
Force (PLAAF) have acquired since 2006 more than sufficient capabilities to defeat their
counterparts in the Republic of China on Taiwan.
The primary mission of the PLAN is offshore defense. But it plans to develop a
blue-water presence along the first island chain in the South China Sea by 2010, along the
second island chain by 2025, and along the third island chain by 2050.
The blue-water presence aims at defending China's highly developed coastal areas,
where its offshore defense strategy alone cannot provide enough security. The homeland
defense line has to be extended outwards to deepen the defense perimeter.
To China, Taiwan is theoretically within its “special economic zone,” for the island is
less than 200 nautical miles away from its southeastern province of Fujian. Taiwan is in the
PLAN’s way to get to the Pacific.
That is why the People’s Republic persistently refuses to yield even an inch in dispute
over the sovereignty of Taiwan. The city of Sansha was established on Hainan Island in
October 2007. It has jurisdiction over three archipelagoes in the South Sea. The PLAN also
enhanced the combat capability of its South Sea Fleet.
The PLAN is charged with protecting China’s sea lanes of communication (SLOC).
First priority is given to the maintenance of the regional SLOC security in the South China
Sea. But if China wants to conduct checkpoint defense in the South China Sea, the PLAN
must be strong enough to overpower all Southeast Asian navies combined and cope with
Japan’s Maritime Self-Defense Force and the Indian Navy.
The PLAN has conducted a fleet exercise in the Northern Pacific. Does it show China
already started building a blue water navy? China does not seem to seek hegemony in Asia.
There are no signs that China is trying to acquire such a navy in pursuit of naval dominance
in Asia against the United States, albeit the PLAN is reported to plan to acquire an aircraft