The navy has been closely watching a former Soviet Union aircraft carrier that China bought from Ukraine in the name of a private company two years ago.
The ship had been moored in a Turkish port waiting for permission from the local government to pass through the Bosporus Straits, a military leader said recently.
It is estimated that the Varyag aircraft carrier is due to arrive at its announced destination -- Macao -- within one month of its passage through the Bosporus Straits of Turkey, said Navy Commander-in-Chief Admiral Li Chieh (李傑).
"We have been keeping a close eye on the ship. We have taken a lot of photos of it. We believe the main purpose for China buying the carrier is not to use it against Taiwan. But the possibility of other uses is still there," Li said.
Li made the remarks at a recent press dinner as part of his answer to inquiries about the navy's view on China's imminent acquisition of the best used aircraft carrier it has ever bought from a foreign country.
It is rumored that China will use the Varyag as the model for its first aircraft carrier. However, Li declined to confirm this.
China bought the Varyag from Ukraine in the name of a Macao-based travel agency. The agency has been widely reported by the Western press as a front organization for the Chinese military whose purpose is to develop a floating entertainment complex.
The Turkish government announced on Thursday that the green light for the Varyag to move through the Bosporus Straits could be given any time after Thursday. China has been waiting two years for this permission to be given.
The Turkish government had been reluctant to give permission for the Varyag to pass through the Bosporus straits because it thought it was dangerous for the giant engineless ship to move through the narrow waterways.
But due to intensive diplomatic efforts by high-level Chinese government officials over the past few months, Ankara eventually compromised with Beijing last week.
The Chinese government's active involvement in the negotiations with Turkey over the Varyag issue gives strength to speculation that the ship is to be used by China to develop its first aircraft carrier.
A defense official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said it is estimated that China has the ability to build its first aircraft carrier in five years on the basis of designs it has learned from foreign countries.
"The question now is whether China is capable of properly maintaining the aircraft carrier after its becomes operational. It will surely force China to increase its defense spending," the official said.
"In addition, China does not have enough pilots to operate Russian-made Su-30 fighter-bombers, which it plans to deploy on its first aircraft carrier. Su-30 pilots have to be well-trained for landing on the deck of the carrier. China has a long way to go yet to get enough qualified pilots for the carrier-based Su-30s," he said.
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