Wang Weiming, Deputy Chief of Staff of the PLA Navy who is also a Deputy to the NPC, told Xinhua on March 10, 2017, on the sidelines of the NPC's plenary session that building of the second aircraft carrier is in good shape as the hull blocks have been joined in the dock. He added that the development of the marines is being accelerated, while the fleet of naval destroyers and frigates is growing bigger and stronger, and the navy will step up air and sea patrols. He said "We will intercept any intruding aircraft and follow every military vessel in areas under our responsibility. Our sailors should stay vigilant and be able to deal with emergencies at all times." Li Yanming, Political Commissar of the Navy's Armaments Department and a Deputy to the NPC, said a first-class navy should be equipped with first-class armaments and vowed better quantity, quality, scope, and functionality of naval armament manufacturing in 2017. Wang Huayong, Deputy Political Commissar of the PLA's Eastern Theater Command and a NPC Deputy, allayed fears surrounding China's increasing naval power.
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