Much has been written about Chinese sea power in the “near seas“ ofEast Asia—those
waters located within the cham of islands extending from the Kurils in the north to
Sumatra in the south) This volume atternpts to broaden the discussion by examining
China‘s efforts to shape its navy to meet new and growing needs beyond Asia, in waters
to which it usually refers as the “far seas‘ or “distant seas‘2 Remote from domestic bases
ofsupport, the far seas impose a range of logistical and operational challenges on the
PLA Navy. But this distance from the Chinese homeland also provides new opportunit
ies for cooperation with the other navies of the world, creating a much-needed antidote
to the growing tensions east of Malacca.
waters located within the cham of islands extending from the Kurils in the north to
Sumatra in the south) This volume atternpts to broaden the discussion by examining
China‘s efforts to shape its navy to meet new and growing needs beyond Asia, in waters
to which it usually refers as the “far seas‘ or “distant seas‘2 Remote from domestic bases
ofsupport, the far seas impose a range of logistical and operational challenges on the
PLA Navy. But this distance from the Chinese homeland also provides new opportunit
ies for cooperation with the other navies of the world, creating a much-needed antidote
to the growing tensions east of Malacca.
