Chinese anti-piracy operations in the Gulf of Aden have directly supported Peoples Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) modernization goals and provided invaluable experience operating in distant waters. Lessons learned have spawned PLAN innovations in doctrine, operations, and international coordination.  Anti-piracy operations have been a springboard for China to expand considerably its maritime security operations from evacuating its citizens from Libya and Yemen to escorting Syrian chemical weapons to their destruction and participating in the search for Malaysia Airlines Flight 370.
