sino52C said:
Western navies have also given up the need for FACs
Since China has the money and the technology, it should concentrate on building a blue water navy.
But I think China has actually been building up on its own coast guard formations. Recently we saw many photographs of new coast guard vessels, of both PLAN and PLA, and the logistical framework to support them (the FAC carriers, the new oilers, the repair ships).
As for blue water, I believe the opposite, that China should stick to a brown water doctrine. Why? Because in short to medium term China will not be able to compete with the American Navy or navies of regional powers far from her shores, so perforce to keep the sea routes open for China she must rely on other than brute force means, and more is spent on building up of a blue water navy will heighten tensions, cost much, probably be obsolete when built, and worst of all, probably won't even do the job even then. So the solution is to keep strong sea denial capability close to China, a very small experimental blue water division for to test doctrines and weapons, and just keep the head down.