The People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) is the naval branch of the People's Liberation Army (PLA). The PLAN force consists of about 250,000 men and over a hundred major combat vessels, organized into three fleets: the North Sea Fleet, the East Sea Fleet, and the South Sea Fleet. Below is the organizational structure of the PLAN.
PLAN headquarters
PLAN headquarters is subordinate to the PLA General Staff Department and the Chairman of the Central Military Committee .
Information current as of March 2007 Commander-in-Chief of the Navy: Admiral Wu Shengli Commander Command Period Wu Shengli Aug 2006 – Present Zhang Dingfa Jun 2003 – Aug 2006 Shi Yunsheng Nov 1996 – Jun 2003 Zhang Lianzhong Jan 1988 – Jun 2003 Liu Huaqing Aug 1982 – Jan 1988 Ye Fei Jan 1980 – Aug 1982 Xiao Jinguang Jan 1950 – Jan 1980
Political Commissar of the Navy: Admiral Miao Hua Political Commissar Command Period Miao Hua December 2014 – Present Liu Xiaojiang Jul 2008 – December 2014 Hu Yanlin Jun 2003 – Jul 2008 Yang Huaiqing Jul 1995 – Jun 2003 Zhou Kunren Dec 1993 – Jul 1995 Wei Jinshan April 1990 – Dec 1993 Li Yaowen Oct 1980 – April 1990 Ye Fei Feb 1979 – Jan 1980 Du Yide Oct 1977 – Dec 1978 Su Zhenhua Sep 1971 – Sep 1977 Li Zuopeng Jun 1967 – Sep 1971 Wang Hongkun Mar 1966 – Jun 1967 Su Zhenhua Feb 1957 – Feb 1966
Deputy Commanders: Ding Yiping Jin Mao Shen Binyi Wang Yucheng Zhang Yongyi Zhang Zhannan Zhao Xingfa Gu Wengen
Deputy Political Commissars: Kang Chengyuan Fan Yinhua Wu Huayang
Chief of Naval Staff: Ding Yiping Director of Political Department: Xu Jianzhong
Fleet Commanders
North Sea Fleet: Rear Admiral Tian Zhong; Political Commissar Li Guang East Sea Fleet: Vice Admiral Xu Hongmen; Political Commissar Xu Jianzhong South Sea Fleet: Vice Admiral Gu Wengen; Political Commissar Huang Jiaxiang
Fleets The People's Liberation Army Navy is divided into three fleets.
{| class="wikitable sortable" |+China PLA Navy Sea Fleets (2007) ! Fleet ! Status ! Parent Command ! Patrol Region ! Headquarters ! Flagship |- valign="top" | North Sea Fleet (NSF; ) | Active | Northern Theater Command () | Bohai Bay, Yellow Sea | Qingdao, Shandong Province | DDG 112 Harbin (), Type 052 Luhu-class Destroyer |- valign="top" | East Sea Fleet (ESF; ) | Active | Eastern Theater Command () | East China Sea | Ningbo, Zhejiang Province | DDG 150 Changchun (), Type 052C Luyang II-class Destroyer |- valign="top" | South Sea Fleet (SSF; ) | Active | Southern Theater Command () | South China Sea | Zhanjiang, Guangdong Province | AOR/AK Nanchang
Bases North Sea Fleet Major bases: Qingdao (HQ), Huludao, Jianggezhuang, Guzhen Bay, Lushun, Xiaopingdao.Yuchi Minor bases: Weihai Wei, Qingshan, Luda, Lianyungang, Ling Shan, Ta Ku Shan, Changshandao, Liuzhuang, Dayuanjiadun, Dalian
East Sea Fleet Major bases: Ningbo (HQ), Zhoushan, Shanghai, Daxie, Fujian. Minor bases: Zhenjiangguan, Wusong, Xinxiang, Wenzhou, Wenzhou SE, Sanduao, Xiamen, Xingxiang, Quandou, Wuhan, Dinghai, Jiaotou
South Sea Fleet Major bases: Zhanjiang (HQ), Yulin, Huangfu, Hong Kong, Guangzhou (Canton) . Minor bases: Haikou, Shantou, Humen, Kuanchuang, Tsun, Kuan Chung, Mawei, Beihai, Pingtan, San Chou Shih, Tang-Chiah Huan, Longmen, Bailong, Dongcun, Baimajing, Xiachuandao,
Branches The PLAN is organised into five branches:People's Liberation Navy - Organizational Structure People's Liberation Army Navy Surface Force People's Liberation Army Navy Submarine Force People's Liberation Army Navy Coastal Defense Force People's Liberation Army Naval Air Force People's Liberation Army Marine Corps
References
External links Sinodefence.com Global Security PLAN Overview GIGA German Institute of Global and Area Studies China Data Supplement Office of Naval Intelligence China's Navy 2007 CRS Report for Congress: China Naval Modernization: Implications for U.S Navy Capabilities — Background and Issues for Congress