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

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Pl<strong>at</strong>form<br />

Nuclear Attack<br />

Submarines<br />

Nuclear Ballistic Missile<br />

Submarines<br />

Diesel Attack<br />

Submarines<br />

North Sea<br />

Fleet<br />

East Sea Fleet<br />

South Sea<br />

Fleet<br />

Total<br />

4 0 2 6<br />

2 0 1 3<br />

20 19 14 53<br />

Destroyers 10 8 8 26<br />

Frig<strong>at</strong>es 8 22 18 48<br />

Amphibious Ships 9 19 30 58*<br />

Missile P<strong>at</strong>rol Craft 15 32 33 80+<br />

Mine Warfare Ships N/A N/A N/A 40<br />

Major Auxiliaries N/A N/A N/A 50 (5 are fleet<br />

AORs)<br />

Minor Auxiliaries <strong>and</strong><br />

Service/Support Craft<br />

N/A N/A N/A 250+<br />

Table 4. China’s Naval Order of B<strong>at</strong>tle (2009). 156<br />

According to Scott Bray, Senior Intelligence Officer-China,<br />

Office of Naval Intelligence, “Between 2000<br />

<strong>and</strong> 2009, the number of major surface comb<strong>at</strong>ants capable<br />

of carrying long-range ASCMs (anti-ship cruise<br />

missiles) has tripled from 12 to 36. Additionally, the<br />

<strong>PLA</strong>(N) has built more than 50 small comb<strong>at</strong>ants with<br />

long-range ASCMs.” Still, this is part of an emphasis<br />

on improving quality <strong>and</strong> anti-access capability; the<br />

<strong>PLA</strong>N as a whole remains far from supporting a substantial<br />

SLOC security posture.<br />

<strong>The</strong>re appears to be leadership support for a least<br />

a gradual increase in long-range Chinese naval capabilities<br />

of lower intensity. Hu requires the <strong>PLA</strong> “to not<br />

only pay close <strong>at</strong>tention to the interests of n<strong>at</strong>ional<br />

survival, but also n<strong>at</strong>ional development interests; not<br />

only safeguard the security of . . . territorial w<strong>at</strong>ers . . .<br />

333

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