The PLA Navy looks to the Indian Ocean

This thesis examines the implications of China's security needs for the modernization and role of the People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN). The main argument is that the expansion of China into a new maritime area of operation is likely to solidify Beijing's current regional relationships and possibly lead to a naval arms buildup in the Indian Ocean region. Although the 2001 Quadrennial Defense Review does not explicitly name China, its conclusion that a 'military competitor with a formidable resource base will emerge' in Asia clearly implies that the United States will have to take into account China's aspirations to become a regional and potentially global maritime power in the 21st century.