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According to a Pentagon report, with 355 ships in its fleet, the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) is scheduled to expand its inventory to 420 ships in the next four years. The Pentagon report also said, by 2030, the PLAN is expected to have 460 ships.
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“Estimated 355 accounted for the main surface ships, submarines, aircraft carriers, sea amphibious ships, mine warships, and auxiliary fleets,” according to the report, which covers events in 2020. 2021).
“This figure does not include the 85 patrolling combatants and ships carrying anti-ship cruise missiles (ASCM). Most of this growth will occur in primary surface combatants,” the report said.
The report, mandated by Congress every year, describes the Chinese Navy’s growing ambition to operate on a more versatile platform beyond the Indo-Pacific region.
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“Towards China’s goal of building a ‘strong and modern Naval force’, the PLAN is an increasingly modern and flexible force, focused on replacing previous generation platforms that had limited capabilities in favor of larger and more modern multi-role combatants,” the report continues. the.
“As of 2020, the PLAN consists mostly of modern multi-role platforms featuring advanced anti-ship, anti-air and anti-submarine weapons and sensors. The PLAN also emphasizes maritime joint operations and joint integration within the PLA. This modernization is in line with China’s increasing emphasis on the maritime domain and increasing demands for the PLAN to operate at greater distances from China,” he added.
This week’s release of the Pentagon report comes amid rising tensions between China and Taiwan. Last month, China flew dozens of its planes in international airspace near Taiwan.
(esn)
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