Financial Times FT.com

Beijing reveals plans to expand naval presence

By Kathrin Hille in Hohhot and Demetri Sevastopulo in,Washington

Published: April 17 2009 03:00 | Last updated: April 17 2009 03:00

China has unveiled plans for a big overhaul and expansion of its navy, in an unusually bold confirmation that its naval ambitions have started to reach far beyond its own shores.

Admiral Wu Shengli, the commander-in-chief of the People's Liberation Army Navy, said it would accelerate efforts to develop a new generation of warships, submarines, fighter aircraft and high-precision long-range missiles to counter the rise in non-conventional threats.

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