ABSTRACT
This chapter aims to explore a profile of the PLA(N), its doctrinal approaches, its broad strategy, its pronouncements in its White paper and then template them over the Indian maritime calculus to see the emerging contours of dissonance and congruence. The PLA(N) initially was totally dependent on Soviet origin hardware which was the mainstay of their forces. However, with passage of time, increasing domestic production overcame this dependence. The recent collaborative approach of the PLA(N) with the Indian Navy and the Japanese MSDF towards conduct of piracy patrols off the Horn of Africa has been significant in more ways than one. In the near future, the South Koreans, another close ally of the US, also likely to join in the collaborative anti piracy patrols. Thus reiterating fact that the Chinese navy is currently not only modernizing by way of its inventory but also mentally and is more open to engaging/cooperating with countries with whom they share an uneasy relationship.
