THE PEOPLE'S LIBERATION ARMY NAVY: THE MOTIVATIONS BEHIND BEIJING'S NAVAL MODERNIZATION

Throughout its history, China has always been a land power with strong continental traditions. As a result, the navy was rarely the subject of attention for the People’s Liberation Army (PLA). Starting in the mid-1990s, however, Beijing started to devote considerable resources to improve the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN). This modernization has been enthusiastically pursued until today and China’s improved maritime capabilities have been catching the attention of the United States and China’s neighbors in East Asia. Countries are wary of Beijing’s intentions in acquiring new fleets, questioning the implications this buildup may have for the security landscape in the region. This thesis aims to contribute to the growing body of literature on Chinese naval modernization by exploring the motivations behind China’s aggressive seaward turn. In addition, this study will assess Beijing’s accomplishments thus far with the program and compare its nautical capabilities with those of the three selected countries with naval presence in East Asia—the Philippines, Japan, and the United States. Based on these considerations, this paper will then discuss the ramifications of Chinese naval modernization for security prospects of the region.