China's massive navy is comprised of hundreds of ships and submarines that have been bolstered by decades-old technology from Russia. The People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) has acquired these combat vessels, including surface warships and submarines, which helped China build a sea power capable of challenging the United States.
The majority of China's fleet is domestically designed, but it has been integrated with Russian-origin naval assets, such as four Sovremenny-class destroyers and 10 Kilo-class submarines. The PLAN has also acquired its first aircraft carrier, CNS Liaoning, formerly constructed for the Soviet Navy.
According to Alex Luck, an Australia-based analyst who specializes in the People's Liberation Army Navy, Chinese relations with Russia have been strengthened by a partnership without limitations. Both countries provide support on issues such as the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war and tensions across the Taiwan Strait. China aims to establish itself as a "world-class" military and has rapidly modernized its naval capabilities.
China initially acquired Russian naval platforms in the 1990s and 2000s, motivated by a desire for rapid fielding of meaningful capability, particularly after relations with the West deteriorated following major incidents such as the Tiananmen Square crackdown in 1989. The Chinese Navy needed both capable platforms to deter the US Navy and assert its own claims in the region, as well as a broader technological base to incorporate into future developments.
The PLAN has made significant advancements in its naval capabilities, with more than 370 ships and submarines now part of its fleet. China aims to have nine aircraft carriers by 2035, planning to build six additional vessels that would outnumber its US counterpart in the Pacific.
However, as China fields more advanced, indigenously designed naval vessels, Russian platforms are expected to be phased out. The Chinese Navy has moved from ski-jump designs used on the Liaoning to catapults capable of launching heavier aircraft. Newer technology and expertise have also been applied to older units, such as the Sovremenny-class destroyers.
The analyst noted that China's domestic electronics and semiconductor industrial base has provided a significant boost in quality and connectivity compared to Russian hardware. Comprehensive modernization efforts for aging destroyers seem to underscore the PLAN's desire not to compromise on numbers for larger combatants.
In summary, China's navy is rapidly expanding its capabilities with advanced, domestically designed vessels. As these new ships enter service, Russian platforms are expected to lose much of their operational significance. The future of Chinese naval power and its relationship with Russia will likely continue to shape the balance of power in Asia.
The majority of China's fleet is domestically designed, but it has been integrated with Russian-origin naval assets, such as four Sovremenny-class destroyers and 10 Kilo-class submarines. The PLAN has also acquired its first aircraft carrier, CNS Liaoning, formerly constructed for the Soviet Navy.
According to Alex Luck, an Australia-based analyst who specializes in the People's Liberation Army Navy, Chinese relations with Russia have been strengthened by a partnership without limitations. Both countries provide support on issues such as the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war and tensions across the Taiwan Strait. China aims to establish itself as a "world-class" military and has rapidly modernized its naval capabilities.
China initially acquired Russian naval platforms in the 1990s and 2000s, motivated by a desire for rapid fielding of meaningful capability, particularly after relations with the West deteriorated following major incidents such as the Tiananmen Square crackdown in 1989. The Chinese Navy needed both capable platforms to deter the US Navy and assert its own claims in the region, as well as a broader technological base to incorporate into future developments.
The PLAN has made significant advancements in its naval capabilities, with more than 370 ships and submarines now part of its fleet. China aims to have nine aircraft carriers by 2035, planning to build six additional vessels that would outnumber its US counterpart in the Pacific.
However, as China fields more advanced, indigenously designed naval vessels, Russian platforms are expected to be phased out. The Chinese Navy has moved from ski-jump designs used on the Liaoning to catapults capable of launching heavier aircraft. Newer technology and expertise have also been applied to older units, such as the Sovremenny-class destroyers.
The analyst noted that China's domestic electronics and semiconductor industrial base has provided a significant boost in quality and connectivity compared to Russian hardware. Comprehensive modernization efforts for aging destroyers seem to underscore the PLAN's desire not to compromise on numbers for larger combatants.
In summary, China's navy is rapidly expanding its capabilities with advanced, domestically designed vessels. As these new ships enter service, Russian platforms are expected to lose much of their operational significance. The future of Chinese naval power and its relationship with Russia will likely continue to shape the balance of power in Asia.
. I mean, it's cool that they're upgrading their fleet with advanced ships and subs, but what if this is just a case of 'us versus them' style naval one-upmanship? 
And what about the environmental impact of all those new vessels on the oceans? 
We need to make sure we're not creating more problems than we're solving.
but what's even crazier is how much tech they're bringing in from russia - it's like, their relationship with moscow has really paid off 
i guess china's all about establishing themselves as a major player on the world stage and who can blame them? 
the fact that they're building more aircraft carriers than the us is just mind-blowing... and let's be real, it's not like russia is gonna lose out or anything - china's got a solid industrial base going on too 
so yeah, china's navy is definitely one to watch 
. They're basically copying and pasting from Russia's tech, but now they're starting to make their own stuff too 
. I mean, 370 ships and submarines? That's a lot of hardware! But what really concerns me is that they're phasing out Russian platforms, which means those old tech vessels will be stuck in the past 
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. It's like they're playing catch-up with themselves! And what about the balance of power in Asia? Will this shift affect our global security? We need to keep an eye on this situation 
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. Can't they just focus on sustainable growth and cooperation instead of building up their military might? Maybe that's just my naivety talking 
China's navy is getting way too big for my taste. I mean, hundreds of ships and submarines? That's a lot of military hardware. And it's not just about quantity, it's also about quality. Those Russian platforms are being phased out because they can't keep up with the newer, better tech that China has developed on its own.
so china's navy is finally getting some decent tech, but does that really make a difference? i mean, they're still gonna rely on russia for support, which kinda undermines their whole "independent" naval power thing. and what about the fact that most of their ships are just old russian junk? 
. But what concerns me is how this affects the balance of power in the Pacific 
, but at what cost? I hope they don't use their new capabilities to intimidate their neighbors or get involved in regional conflicts 
