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

The PLAN did not make its first foreign port call
until 1985, when it visited Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and
Bangladesh. From 1985-2008, a total of 31 PLAN task
forces conducted 77 port calls abroad. 55 This number
does not include the counterpiracy task force sent to
the Horn of Africa in late 2008. Of the 31 task forces,
21 were dispatched during the 2000s; however, there
is no discernible pattern for the number of visits per
year, which ranged from none in 2004 to five in 2007.
In terms of the number of countries visited and the
distance covered by a single task force, the voyage
around the world to 10 countries in 2002 is the most
significant. 56
Some of the visits have been arranged so that the
PLAN could participate in various anniversaries, such
as Indonesia’s 50th anniversary, the 35th anniversary
of the Sino-DPRK friendship treaty, the 30th anniversary
of Sino-Canadian diplomatic relations, the 50th
anniversary of Sino-Pakistan relations, the 100th anniversary
of the Philippine Navy, and Russia for the
50th anniversary of the end of World War II and the
300th anniversary of the Russian Navy. 57 At the same
time that it is paying its respects to a foreign military,
the PLAN is also demonstrating its growing capabilities
and establishing a visible presence abroad.
These port calls, especially to distant countries,
help PLAN ships prepare to remain out of port for
longer periods than they would normally experience
during training, to expand beyond their normal operating
areas, and to practice replenishment at sea.
During these visits, the ships gain experience establishing
communications links back to their home base,
the fleet, and to PLAN Headquarters. These visits
also serve as morale-builders in the PLAN, allowing
participating personnel a chance to gain confidence
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