PLAN Operational Experience. The PLAN’s experience in extended range operations is primarily derived from naval task group deployments and its ongoing counterpiracy mission in the Gulf of Aden, humanitarian and disaster relief operations, or intelligence collection missions. However, the PLA does also deploy surface task groups into areas of the western and southern Pacific to gain incremental far seas experience.
- The PLAN has operated in the Gulf of Aden since 2008, deploying 3-4 vessels on average and 700 personnel for 4-month deployments. As of January 2023, the PLA has deployed 131 vessels and more than 32,000 personnel across 42 escort missions.
- In early 2022, the PLAN conducted distant sea joint training in the eastern Indian and western Pacific oceans. The task group included two destroyers, an amphibious landing dock, and a replenishment ship.
- In January and February 2022, the PLAN and PLAAF delivered disaster relief supplies to the Pacific Island nation Tonga.
- In March 2022, a PLA naval supply ship conducted resupply at the PLA’s Support Base in Djibouti, marking the first time a PLA vessel naval ships berthed at the location.
- In August 2022, a PLA AGI conducted an intelligence collection mission during the U.S. Navy’s international exercise RIMPAC.
- In September 2022, the PLA conducted a four-day maritime training exercise with guided missile destroyers in the South Pacific, near French Polynesia.
- In November 2022, the Peace Ark hospital ship conducted its first visit since 2018 to Indonesia.
PLAN PLATFORMS
New ships enable the PLAN to gradually extend its operational reach beyond East Asia. In 2022, the PLAN launched its third aircraft carrier, Fujian, equipped with electromagnetic catapults, capable of launching various fixed-wing aircraft. When commissioned, the carrier will be capable of launching various specialized fixed-wing aircraft for early warning, electronic warfare, or antisubmarine warfare missions, increasing the strike power potential of the PLAN.
The RENHAI and LUYANG III are the PRC’s premier carrier escort for blue-water operations. The RENHAI CG, with 13,000 tons displacement and long-range ASCMs and SAMs, will likely be equipped with a planned naval variant of the Z-20 helicopter. The PLAN is engaged in series production of the RENHAI CG with at least eight units in service. The PLAN currently operates eight YUCHAO-class amphibious assault ships (LPD) and commissioned its first of three YUSHEN-class helicopter assault ships (LHD) in April 2021. The PLAN’s expanding fleet of large modern amphibious warships will enable it to conduct a wide range of expeditionary operations to protect the PRC’s interests or in support of international assistance operations.
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OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY OF DEFENSE
Annual Report to Congress: Military and Security Developments Involving the People's Republic of China
