The Chinese administration of Xi Jinping has reiterated its intention to push ahead with a “strong army” policy. This policy centers on building China into a maritime power.
In its biennial defense white paper released last week, Beijing declared: “It is an essential national development strategy to exploit, utilize and protect the seas and oceans, and build China into a maritime power. It is an important duty for the PLA (People’s Liberation Army) to resolutely safeguard China’s maritime rights and interests.”
The white paper also emphasized China has developed a policy of bolstering cooperation between its navy and the State Oceanic Administration’s surveillance vessels and others.
Read the full story at China Defense MashUp