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| satelite image of China's aircraft carrier |
It is very interesting that the Chinese state media Xinhua is finally starting publishing pictures of China's first aircraft carrier. The vessel is a defunct Soviet-era carrier formerly named the Varyag that was bought in 1998 from Ukraine by a Hong Kong company on the pretext that it would be used as a floating casino off the shores of Macau. Instead it has been upgraded at China's Dalian naval shipyard with combat sensors and defensive weapons and painted in the colors of the People's Liberation Army.
After 70 years of hoping to develop its own war machine finally it will be finished this year. Senior generals in the People's Liberation Army finally confirming one of the world's worst kept military secrets. For several years foreigners have been kept out of the area of Dalian where the work has taken place. But the existence of a 67,500 tone vessel is not easily concealed and in recent month photographs have appeared in state-run media.
China's assistant military chief Gen.Qi Jianguo, suggested the vessel was both as a status symbol and a long-overdue strengthening of China's naval defense. "All of the great nations in the world owns aircraft carriers – they are symbols of a great nation," Qi was quoted as saying. "It would have been better for us if we acted sooner in understanding the oceans and mapping out our blue-water capabilities earlier".Referring to areas where territorial waters are disputed, he said that China faced "heavy pressure" in the South China Sea mostly in the spratly islands .Their development can further fuelling unease about its impact on regional stability. Which means that our country (Philippines) might lost its grip in our territorial claims.
China has yet to announce whether the carrier will be renamed. One report suggests it will be called Shi Lang, after a Ming dynasty admiral.The 20million dollars vessel had a flat flight deck, radar system, carrier-killer missile launch systems that can destroys an enemy aircraft carrier. It is a significant step forward of China's military power. They are planning to built six carriers more in a ten years time. It is very clear that China's military is expanding its reach it means that in our region China will dominates the military supremacy.The emergence of the hi-tech weaponry which would make it more difficult for the US navy and air force to project powers close elsewhere on China's coastline.