A high point of the 90th anniversary of the founding of the People's Liberation Army, which falls on Aug 1, should be the increasing might of the PLA Navy, which launched its first domestically built destroyer in June and first "homemade" aircraft carrier in April. The destroyer is expected to have cutting-edge air defense, missile defense, anti-ship and anti-submarine missiles when it is commissioned for duty early next year, while the aircraft carrier will lead combat and defense missions as well as non-combat missions such as anti-terrorism and anti-piracy operations.

The two large vessels are just a glimpse of how far China has come in its pursuit of naval prowess. From a collection of elementary warships to a combination of submarines, surface vessels, airmen, marines and coastal defense troops, the PLA Navy now has multiple versatile forces that can engage in both conventional and nuclear combats. Its capability to safeguard sovereign and security interests, as well as conduct sophisticated modern naval missions, too, has greatly improved.

China developed its first-generation warships, including guided missile destroyers, nuclear-powered attack submarines and missile destroyers before the mid-1970s. In the 1990s, the second-generation guided missile destroyer, or CNS Harbin, joined the naval fleet, reflecting Chinese warships' focus on versatility and open sea operations. The Type 052C-class destroyers, the third-generation vessels in the line, were equipped with point and area defense systems.