"China's navy is to scale rapid expansion, frequent to ocean and to be concerned about, but it is still considered a typical coast fleet." When many western media advocacy Chinese naval threat, the United States "strategy of the page" website 14 analysis this paper but draw such conclusion. The report says that China navy to have really formidable fighting capacity, not just empty of scale "puffiness", still need to overcome ocean activities less, anti-submarine and reverse mine ability is low, the lack of blue water navy mentality and so on many short plate.
Report says, the Chinese navy face the most important and the most need to overcome problems is to let more naval vessels to ocean activities. "For centuries, the modern warships improve the operational effectiveness of the only way is in the sea than their rivals spent more time training". In the United States eyes, Chinese naval ship sea training, especially the ocean training seriously insufficient strength. United States naval intelligence office assessment report claims, until the s and s of the last century, the people's liberation army navy ship most of the time is still only in offshore activities: until November 1985, the people's liberation army navy for the first time to go abroad to visit Pakistan; In May 1986, the people's liberation army beihai fleet of ship more joint formation in northwest Pacific waters completed its first open sea contract combat training... American scientists drupal report, said in 2005, the Chinese submarine ocean patrol number is zero, 2008 years of ascension to 12 times, but with the scale of about 50 submarine than up, every Chinese submarine an average of four and a half years to have the opportunity to patrol 1 time. By contrast, the United States of each ship submarine every year at least ocean patrol 1 time. "Strategy of the page" web site had another report argue that China's 092 type "summer" class strategic nuclear submarine self service had never been participated in ocean patrol mission.
Increase in ocean activities, "strategy of the page" web site analysis believe that China's navy now run the Somali convoy action effect significantly. "The Chinese navy from almost no ocean activities, to a large number of execution ocean task transformation are nearly 10 years occurred in." Reports say, from the beginning of 2008 to the Somali convoy action, the people's liberation army navy always sent from 1-2 destroyer and frigate, 1-2 ship supply ship composed of convoy formation, in the gulf of Aden execution for four months of patrol mission. In the tens of thousands of kilometers waters executive time cruising, can let convoy formation to accept the most intensive and extensive exercise. Although it is difficult to have the opportunity to really with the enemy fire, but convoy formation can be in the high seas long-term patrol, and searching unknown enemy valuable experience.
The report also says China's navy has 74 destroyer and frigate to existing planning, have 4-5 years time, all Chinese main naval vessels will be to somalia accept ocean practical test. Reported that, compared with the ship, somalia to escort the Chinese navy talents is more important. Every time convoy usually about 800 officers and men to participate in, now thousands of Chinese naval officers and soldiers to escort tasks will they get ocean skills and experience to share with the entire fleet. In addition to somalia convoy outside, the Chinese navy frequently to ocean drill and expand to the west sea visit also concern. In 2007, the Chinese naval ship formation for the first time with the British navy in the UK waters offshore joint military exercise; Japan 2012 years of defense for the first time, the white paper says that China's naval forces in the Pacific appear normalization, On August 13, 2012, the "Qingdao" number guided missile destroyer, "yantai" number frigate, "weishan lake," number of supply ship formation arrived in Israel Haifa port, this is a Chinese naval ship first visit to Israel. "Despite the ocean experience costly, but this is wartime the key to success".
The report also think, lack of anti-submarine and reverse mine and other basic ability is China's naval another short board, "considering the surrounding nuclear submarine and the conventional submarine quantity, development ability of antisubmarine warfare in China should have a higher priority". According to the Asian military review report, the asia-pacific is starting the new round submarine purchasing tide, in ten years, in addition to outside China other asia-pacific countries and regions will be more than 90 new submarine. The India will through the loan and build its own gain considerable underwater submarine force, South Korea, Japan, Australia, Pakistan and other countries also are equipped with the world's advanced level of conventional submarine. According to Russian information about 15 days of reports, Russia for Vietnam to build six ship "base los" class submarine in the first ship this month in st. Petersburg admiralty shipyard launching, will focus years delivery Vietnam use. British "today's China defense" web site also think, lack of professional Chinese navy antisubmarine power: early service destroyer and frigate basic does not have antisubmarine ability, in recent years, the new launching new destroyer and frigate on the design more emphasis on air defense and anti-ship, lack of detection mute type submarine required high performance sonar and large carrier antisubmarine helicopter. In addition the Asian common equipment American P - 3 series anti-submarine patrol machine, India also has introduced more advanced P - 8 I anti-submarine patrol machine, against submarine more effective fixed wing antisubmarine plane field, the gap between the Chinese navy obviously.
"Reverse mine the shortage of the capacity of the Chinese navy is facing another serious problem". Reported that China's navy has excellent equipment can large-scale master mine, blockade other countries coast or to protect its waters shall not be infringed upon, but not enough clear opponents of the open mine. Reported that the shortage of the capacity of mine is a lot of navy have some trouble, but for such Chinese overseas trade in power, it is possible for hundreds of pieces of mine was forced to close all sea channel sad situation.
In addition to equipment outside, reports say the Chinese navy must overcome continue the thousands of years of coastal navy mentality. Reports say, come to China one thousand years before the sea power requirements never more than coast guard duty range, mainly is to deal with pirates and smuggling. But now to protect the growing overseas trade, China needs a blue water navy. This includes not only have the ability of long ocean voyages combat ships, experienced sailor, also means that need a large number of support ship. The tanker, tender and maintenance of ship support fleet away from China's local keep PLA naval combat ability. Reports say the, when China's massive investment in these areas, you will know that China is serious construction ocean-going navy.
