In this episode of the Australian Naval Institute’s Saltwater Strategists, host Jen Parker is joined by Tom Shugart, a prominent expert in naval and defence strategy, to discuss the evolving power of the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN). With a distinguished career in the U.S. Navy and deep expertise in analysing naval capabilities, Tom provides a detailed analysis of China's maritime ambitions.

Jen and Tom delve into key topics, including the PLAN's modernisation efforts, the strategic role of submarines in China’s maritime strategy, and the growing significance of uncrewed naval platforms. They also explore recent developments, such as the reported sinking of a Chinese nuclear submarine, examining what this incident might reveal about the operational challenges facing the PLAN.

Drawing comparisons with the U.S. Navy and allied forces, the discussion highlights both strengths and weaknesses in the PLAN’s operational approaches, and Tom offers insights into where China's naval forces may head in the coming decade, including potential areas of future investment.

This episode offers listeners a comprehensive overview of how the PLA Navy is positioning itself as a major maritime power and what this means for broader Indo-Pacific security dynamics.