China Extends its Reach
By Commander Jim Lewis, U.S. Navy (Retired)
China's anti-piracy efforts off Somalia show confidence in its navy's expertise at underway replenishing—a hallmark of global power.
The deployment of Chinese combatants to the Gulf of Aden demonstrates that the People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) is no longer a second-rate naval power, tied to local waters by a short logistics line. Based on the professionalism displayed by its vessels in the Gulf of Aden for the past 18 months, China is quickly moving toward a blue-water capability to sustain operations far from home waters for extended periods.
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