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 is subordinate to the PLA General Staff Department and the Chairman of the Central Military Committee .
Information current as of March 2007
| 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 | 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:
Deputy Political Commissars:
Chief of Naval Staff: Ding Yiping
Director of Political Department: Xu Jianzhong
Fleet Commanders
The People's Liberation Army Navy is divided into three fleets.
| North Sea Fleet (NSF;) | Active | Northern Theater Command | Bohai Bay, Yellow Sea | Qingdao, Shandong Province | DDG 112 Harbin, Type 052 Luhu-class Destroyer | |
| East Sea Fleet (ESF;) | Active | Eastern Theater Command | East China Sea | Ningbo, Zhejiang Province | DDG 150 Changchun, Type 052C Luyang II-class Destroyer | |
| South Sea Fleet (SSF;) | Active | Southern Theater Command | South China Sea | Zhanjiang, Guangdong Province | AOR/AK Nanchang |
North Sea FleetMajor 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 FleetMajor bases: Ningbo (HQ), Zhoushan, Shanghai, Daxie, Fujian. Minor bases: Zhenjiangguan, Wusong, Xinxiang, Wenzhou, Wenzhou SE, Sanduao, Xiamen, Xingxiang, Quandou, Wuhan, Dinghai, Jiaotou
South Sea FleetMajor 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,
The PLAN is organised into five branches:[1]