In search of blue water power: The PLA navy’s maritime strategy in the 1990s

Pacific Review

Volumn 4, Issue 2, 1991, Pages 137-149

  Ji, You ^a   Xu, You ^a  

^a AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL UNIVERSITY   (Australia)

Author keywords

[No Author keywords available]

Indexed keywords

EID: 84909097788     PISSN: 09512748     EISSN: 14701332     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.1080/09512749108718910     Document Type: Article

References (78)

1. According to Bradley Hahn, the term ‘green water’ is used to express a naval capability somewhere between ‘brown water’ (coastal defence) and ‘blue water’ (full open-ocean fleet). ‘Hai Fang’, US Naval Institute Proceedings, March 1986, p. 116.
2. PLA Navy, Navy, No. 6, 1986, p. 2.
3. PLA sources.
4. Huang Caihong, ‘The PLA Navy’s Development Strategy’, Jianchuan Zhishi (Civilian & Warship Knowledge) No. 4, 1989, pp. 2-3.
5. Zhong Su, ‘The Big Trend’, PLA, Kunlun, No. 5, 1989.
6. Teng Yu, ‘Enhance the Sense of Sea Territories and Boost the Naval Build-up’, Theory Forum (Hebei People’s Publishing House, 1988), p. 175.
7. Liu Huaqing’s article in Liaowang (Outlook), No. 8, 1984, pp. 8-9.
8. Chen Xiaoxing, ‘The Requirements placed by Coastal Economic Development on Naval Building’, Military Economic Research, No. 7, 1989, pp. 39-41.
9. People’s Daily (Overseas edition), 7 October 1988.
10. People’s Daily (Overseas edition)., 18 June 1990.
11. Duan Ruanlin, ‘China’s Ocean Fishing Fleet’, Jianchuan Zhishi, No. 3, 1989, pp. 26-7.
12. Dong Xingtai, ‘Writing for the Navy Which Zigzags in the Inshore Waters’, Military Economic Research, No. 3, 1989, pp. 13-18.
13. Xiao Jingguang, Xiao Jingguang’s Autobiography (Beijing: PLA Publishing House, 1988), pp. 31-5.
14. Run Bei, ‘Thirty Years of A Great Course’, Jianchuan Zhishi, No. 5, 1989, pp. 2-3.
15. Xiao Jingguang, Autobiography.
16. In the 1960s Liu was president of the 7th Research Academy under the Ministry for National Defence, specializing in naval R&D. In the 1970s he was vice director of the National Defence Commission for Science and Industries.
17. ‘Hai Fang’, p. 119.
18. Zhao Wei, ‘Colonel General Liu Huaqing-The New Vice-Chairman of the CMC’, Mingpao Monthly, No. 1, 1990, p. 39.
19. Xu Shiming, ‘The Status and Role of the Navy in a Limited War’, Huang Yuzhang (ed.), Limited War: Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow (Beijing: National Defence Academy Publishing House, 1988), pp. 417-444.
20. Huang Caihong, ‘The PLA Navy’.
21. The second islands chain indicates another chain of islands a few hundred nautical miles east of the first island chain. See Lu Rucun and others (eds.), Dangdai Zhongguo Haijun (The Contemporary Chinese Navy), (Beijing: Zhongguo shehui kexue chupanshe, 1987), p. 477.
22. Xiao Jingguang, Autobiography.
23. According to PLA sources, the navy was the least affected by the large-scale streamlining in 1985.
24. The navy had undergone three leaderships, under Xiao Jingguang, Li Zuopeng and Su Zhenhua. Each developed a patronage network and each fought against the others fiercely.
25. It is widely tipped that Liu will enter the Politburo as the military representative after Qin Jiwei retires at the 14th party congress.
26. Liao Xinqun and Wu Xuansheng, ‘On the Priorities in the Military Budget Allocation’, Military Economic Research, No. 7, 1989, pp. 4-7.
27. Ye Zhi, ‘Come, the Aircraft Carriers’, Military Economic Research, No. 1, 1989, pp. 4-6.
28. Wu Qinwen, ‘On the Organic Combination of the Defence Build-up and Economic Development’, Military Economic Research, No. 4, 1987, pp. 4-9.
29. International Herald Tribune, 3 May 1990, p. 4.
30. Wang Chuanyan, ‘The World Today and Our Military Modernization’, Theory Forum, pp. 10-11.
31. Xiao Jun, ‘Priority and Balance’, Jianchuan Zhishi, No. 11, 1989, pp. 2-4.
32. Bai Keming, ‘The Future Development of the PLA Navy’, Jianchuan Zhishi, No. 12,1988, pp. 2-4.
33. Xiao Jun, ‘Priority’.
34. Xu Shiming, ‘The Status and Role of the Navy in a Limited War’, p. 425.
35. Xiao Ping, The Chinese Navy and Its Nuclear Forces’, Jianchuan Zhishi, No. 1, 1989, p. 3.
36. Wang Dongpo, ‘The Strategic Rivalry in the West Pacific and Our Country’s Security and Development’, New Asia, No. 1, 1990, p. 115.
37. The latest was conducted in the first two weeks of July 1990. Its aim is clearly stated as helping the ASEAN countries, particularly Malaysia, to enhance their sea defence while they do not have enough naval capability of their own. Australian, 5 July 1990.
38. Wang Dongpo, ‘Strategic Rivalry’.
39. Ngok Lee, China’s Defence Modernisation and Military Leadership (Sydney: Australian National University Press, 1989), p. 68.
40. Ngok Lee, China’s Defence Modernisation and Military Leadership (Sydney: Australian National University Press, 1989)., p. 70.
41. Shen Lijiang, ‘A Visit to the PLA Navy’s Nuclear Submarine Unit’, Jiangchuan Zhishi, No. 8,1989, pp. 2-3.
42. Chong-Pin Lin, China’s Nuclear Weapons Strategy (Lexington: Heath & Company, 1988), pp. 57-62.
43. With two XIA class submarines commissioned and another two in construction, a minimum second-strike ability has been achieved. Since the state cannot afford to provide more nuclear reactors to the navy, the latter has shifted the priority from hardware deployment to technology storage.
44. Ngok Lee, China’s Defence Modernisation, p. 179.
45. According to an informative Japanese researcher, every movement of these submarines can be detected by the Japanese navy.
46. Wang Weixing, ‘Above is the Sea Territory of a Foreign Country’, Qingchuan, No. 5, 1988, pp. 2-14.
47. Shen Shungeng, ‘The Iron Horses of the South China Sea’, Jiangchuan Zhishi, No. 1,1990, pp. 2-4.
48. Ngok Lee, China’s Defence Modernisation, p. 70.
49. Wide Angle (H>K).
50. Hu Qidao, ‘The Aircraft of the NAF’, Jiangchuan Zhishi, No. 7, 1989, pp. 4-5.
51. John W. R. Taylor (ed.), Jane’s All the World’s Aircraft 1989-90 (Coulsdon, Surrey: Jane’s Information Group, 1989).
52. Hu Qidao, ‘Aircraft’.
53. Huang Caihuang, ‘The Evolution of the NAF Has Entered a New Stage’, Jianchuan Zhishi, No. 2, 1989, p. 3.
54. Global View Monthly, No. 1, 1990, p. 78.
55. Hongkuo Zhishi (Aviation Knowledge), No. 9, 1989, p. 68.
56. Shen Lijian, ‘Sea Control Depends on Control of the Air’, Jianchuan Zhishi, No. 9,1987, pp. 2-3.
57. Jianchuan Zhishi, No. 5, 1987, p. 19.
58. This school of thought is influenced by US ‘forward defence’ ideas. It is very popular among the young naval commanders who have university training. Some of them have even studied in the United States or Europe.
59. Ye Zhi, ‘Aircraft Carriers’.
60. Foreign Broadcast Information Service (FBIS) CHI-90-106, 1 June 1990, p. 30.
61. Ye Zhi, ‘Aircraft Carriers’.
62. Interview with researchers in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
63. Pacific Research, Vol. 3, No. 2, May 1990, p. 14.
64. Far East Economic Review, 4 October 1990, p. 8.
65. Shang Guanji, Zhonggong Wuqi Paosi (Taibei: Dongqa Chubanshe, 1987), p. 156.
66. Shen Lijiang, ‘The Mysterious Course of the Pilot Warship Captains’, Jianchuan Zhishi, No. 7, 1989, p. 6.
67. Xiao Jun, ‘Priority’.
68. Ye Zhi, ‘Aircraft Carriers’.
69. Jianchuan Zhishi, No. 5, 1987, p. 17.
70. Ye Zhi, ‘Aircraft Carriers’.
71. Military Economic Research, No. 7, 1987, p. 36.
72. Wu Qinwen, ‘On the Organic Combination of the Defence Buildup and Economic Development’, Military Economic Research, No. 4, 1987, pp. 4-8.
73. Liao Xinqun and Wu Xuansheng, ‘On the Priorities in the Military Budget Allocation’, pp. 4-7.
74. Bai Keming, ‘Future Development’.
75. Lu Ruchuan, The History of the PLA Navy (Beijing: PLA Publishing House, 1989), p. 247.
76. Wang Yongguo, ‘The Construction of the Navy’s Strategic Base-A Neglected Area’, Military Economic Research, No. 3, 1989, pp. 19-23.
77. Gary Klintworth, ‘China’s New Navy’, Pacific Research, May 1989, p. 7.
78. Steven A. Raho III, ‘Korea and American National Security’, Parameters, September 1989, p. 69.