PLA officer: Navy needs more punch

Rear admiral calls for stronger, more capable fleet to protect nation's interests

At a time when the PLA Navy has become an indispensable force in safeguarding China's interests, the nation should further strengthen its maritime capabilities, a senior naval officer said.

"A strong maritime force is one of the decisive factors in whether the country will be fully capable of protecting its interests," said Rear Admiral Du Benyin, deputy political commissar of the PLA Navy's South Sea Fleet.