I wouldn’t put the PLAN up there just yet. I think SSNs are the key to a powerful navy, because they are the vessels that will kill the other side’s ships. The Astute class coming into service now is the most advanced in the world, and most importantly, the most stealthy. The Chinese SSNs are by many accounts very noisy in comparison and would not survive as long in a real shooting war...
Doesn’t the PLAN have some quiet diesels?