The PLA at Home and Abroad - Strategic Studies Institute - U.S. Army

other military forces.” 150 The value of air support is
becoming clear, perhaps accelerating prospects for
Chinese deck aviation development (e.g., ships that
can accommodate larger numbers of helicopters as
well as an increased number of shipboard helicopters):
“The experiences of the naval forces of other countries
show that the helicopters carried onboard the naval
vessels and small-caliber artillery systems will play
an important role.” 151 Even more important, the Aden
deployment opens up new ideas and discussions that
were unthinkable in PLA even 1 year ago, such as the
advocacy of overseas bases.
Although the deployment represents a breakthrough
for the PLAN, the amount of time each of
the escort fleets can spend in the area is constrained
by logistics and supply limitations. This mission has
therefore been viewed by some Chinese strategists
as insufficient to safeguard Beijing’s growing maritime
interests. According to PLA Air Force (PLAAF)
Colonel Dai Xu, “The Chinese expeditionary force
in Somalia has been attracting a lot of attention from
around the world, but with only a single replenishment
oiler, exactly how much long-term escort time
can two warships provide for commercial vessels from
various countries?” 152 As such missions become more
common place, China will need to carry them out in
wider areas, at lower costs, and over longer periods of
time. According to Dai, “moves toward establishing
an overseas base are a logical extension of this line of
thinking.” Similarly, Senior Captain Li Jie, a strategist
at the PLAN’s Naval Research Institute, has recommended
establishing a supply and support center in
East Africa to facilitate PLAN operations in the region.
Li argues that the setting up a support center in the
area is a real possibility, given that the PLAN has already
set the precedent of conducting resupply and
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