The People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN or PLA Navy) is the naval branch of the People's Liberation Army, the armed forces of the People's Republic of China.
Until the early 1990s, the PLA Navy performed a subordinate role to the PLA Ground Force. Since then, the PLA Navy has undergone a rapid modernization. The PLA Navy is the second largest naval service in the world, only behind the United States Navy. With a personnel strength of over 250,000, the PLAN also includes the 35,000-strong Coastal Defense Force and the 56,000-strong PLA Marine Corps, plus a 56,000-strong PLA Naval Air Force, operating several hundred land-based aircraft and ship-based helicopters. As part of its overall program of naval modernization, the PLA Navy is moving towards the development of a blue-water navy.
As of 2008, English-language official Chinese state media no longer uses the term "People's Liberation Army Navy", instead the term "Chinese Navy" along with the usage of the prefix "CNS" for "Chinese Navy Ship" is now employed.
Read more about People's Liberation Army Navy: Mission, History, Organization, Equipment, Navy Aviation, Future Fleet
Famous quotes containing the words people, liberation, army and/or navy:
“Grand Hotel. Always the same. People come. People go. Nothing ever happens.”
—William A. Drake (1900–1965)
“The women’s liberation movement at this point in history makes the American Communist Party of the 1930s look like a monolith.”
—Nora Ephron (b. 1941)
“It is only the enlightened ruler and the wise general who will use the highest intelligence of the army for the purposes of spying, and thereby they achieve great results.”
—Sun Tzu (6–5th century B.C.)
“We all know the Navy is never wrong, but in this case it was a little weak on being right.”
—Wendell Mayes, U.S. screenwriter. Otto Preminger. CINCPAC II (Henry Fonda)