Commentary: Chinese ocean presence a must for peaceful development

The People's Liberation Army Navy, which grew from little more than several abandoned Kuomintang ships, learned during coastal fights in its infancy that peace has a high price.

A naval parade of the Chinese People's Liberation Army  (PLA) Navy warships and aircraft is held in waters off  China's port city of Qingdao, east China's Shandong  Province, on April 23, 2009. (Xinhua/Li Gang)

Seriously considering becoming a real blue-water force, the Navy was urged to increase its capabilities to match the nation's international status after making a transition from inshore protection to offshore defense.