China Marks Decade of Naval Expansion and South China Sea Integration

On the tenth anniversary of the South China Sea Arbitration, Chinese state media and military experts are highlighting a decade of transformation for the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN). Since the 2015 military reforms, the PLAN has shifted from isolated "offshore defense" to integrated "open seas protection," supported by fortified features in the Nansha (Spratly) Islands. With the recent deployment of the Fujian carrier and a "crushing advantage" claimed by domestic experts, Beijing is signaling a permanent shift in the regional security architecture through high-readiness maritime control and joint operations.

The 10th anniversary of the South China Sea Arbitration serves as a benchmark for China's military expansion in the region. The transition of the Fujian carrier and the fortification of Nansha reefs signal a shift toward permanent, high-readiness maritime control, fundamentally altering the security architecture of the Indo-Pacific.

On July 12, 2026, Chinese state media marked the tenth anniversary of the South China Sea Arbitration by detailing the People’s Liberation Army Navy’s (PLAN) transition into a force capable of sustained regional control. According to military experts and official reports, the last decade has seen the PLAN move from a strategy of "offshore defense" to a more assertive "open seas protection" model. ### Structural Reforms and Joint Operations Military expert Song Xiaojun attributes this shift to the 2015 defense reforms, which he describes as the most profound in the history of the People's Republic. These reforms integrated the Navy into three theater commands, ensuring that naval units are no longer "fighting alone" but are instead supported by other military branches. This integration has reportedly multiplied the PLAN's operational capacity, making long-distance patrols and high-frequency exercises in the South China Sea a "routine" occurrence compared to their rarity a decade ago. ### Fortification of the Nansha Islands A critical component of this strategy has been the physical upgrade of features in the Nansha (Spratly) Islands. China has completed construction on Yongshu, Meiji, and Zhubi reefs, which now feature functional airports, radar networks, and anti-ship and air-defense missile systems. Expert Li Yaqing notes that these islands have transitioned from "quantitative to qualitative" change, allowing for continuous combat readiness and permanent maritime patrols that have fundamentally altered the security conditions of the sea. ### Advanced Naval Platforms The deployment of the Fujian, China’s first carrier equipped with electromagnetic catapults, remains a focal point of this expansion. In June 2026, the Fujian conducted routine training by transiting the Taiwan Strait into the South China Sea. This vessel is central to what experts call the "Carrier Five-Piece Set," a core system of carrier-based aircraft. Song Xiaojun suggests that future developments may include a "six-piece set" incorporating laser weapons and other advanced technologies. ### Strategic Outlook While Beijing maintains that its military presence is intended to safeguard regional peace and is not targeted at any specific nation, domestic experts express a high degree of confidence in their current posture. Li Yaqing claims that China now possesses a "crushing advantage" against hostile forces within the Second Island Chain. This military strength is increasingly paired with China Coast Guard enforcement, particularly around Huangyan Island, to maintain what Beijing describes as "effective control" over disputed waters.