That would have been true like 20 years ago, but the PLAN is absolutely a bluewater navy capable of projecting power. Their focus is on their backyard, but they have 3 aircraft carriers, 64 destroyers (with two more of the advanced type 55 commissioned a couple days ago), and 69 submarines.
The People’s Liberation Army’s Navy is designed to reach Taiwan. They have no ability to defend ships all the way from the Persian Gulf.
India and every country on the way also NEEDS oil and will go out and take it to prevent disaster in their own countries.
China is at the wrong end of straw.
That would have been true like 20 years ago, but the PLAN is absolutely a bluewater navy capable of projecting power. Their focus is on their backyard, but they have 3 aircraft carriers, 64 destroyers (with two more of the advanced type 55 commissioned a couple days ago), and 69 submarines.