Celebrating 68 years of Chinese naval development

[Video source: CGTN]

The People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Navy was born on April 23, 1949, in a small village in the city of Taizhou in China’s eastern province of Jiangsu. In those days, there were only 13 officers and three American jeeps.

China’s navy has grown significantly since then, starting with frigates before moving on to coastal artillery battalions, an aviation division, a submarine fleet, and a marine division. 

In 1955, the Chinese navy boasted of 800 warships and 500 planes. 

Close to seven decades since its founding, the Chinese navy continues to grow. The PLA Navy is close to completing its second aircraft carrier, which is expected to enter operation in 2020, the Ministry of National Defense said in late March.