What earlier PLA reform could do for Chinese destroyers

What naval projects could China pursue if Deng began PLA reforms and army reductions in 1979 rather than 1989?

Destroyer upgrades and domestic construction could begin earlier, but carriers would still await a change in strategy rather than funding alone.

An earlier domestic destroyer upgrade and construction programme becomes plausible if Deng Xiaoping begins downsizing the ground forces in 1979. Aircraft carriers depended on a broader strategic change, so extra resources alone would not necessarily bring them forward. China might still choose between Soviet-derived designs and a more independent development path based on what technology was available at the time.