China’s first aircraft carrier, a retrofitted ship bought from Ukraine in 1998, is expected to be mainly used for training purposes and could begin sea trials within a few weeks, a state-run newspaper reported yesterday.
The former Soviet carrier Varyag, once destined to become a floating casino, is part of Chinese President Hu Jintao’s (胡錦濤) push to modernize the navy.
Chinese military and political sources said earlier this year that Beijing could launch the carrier this year, as China marks 90 years since the founding of the Chinese Communist Party.
Such a launch would be a first, exploratory step towards an operational carrier fleet.
“The ... Varyag is expected to serve primarily as a training vessel for pilots and deck crews,” the English-language China Daily reported.
It “will begin initial sea trials probably either late this month, in early August or later in the year,” the official newspaper added. “It is uncertain when the Varyag will be made operational and where it will be based.”
The report also said there were “rumors ... saying that another aircraft carrier is being built in Shanghai.” It did not elaborate.
Military and defense analysts and experts say though that in practical terms it is likely to take the Chinese navy years to have a credible carrier operation in Asia’s seas.
The cost of building a medium-sized conventionally powered carrier similar to the Russian Kuznetsov class could exceed US$2 billion. China is likely to acquire at least two, sources say.
The carrier will add to regional concerns about China’s military modernization and arms build-up.
China is also working on a ballistic missile, which could pose a serious threat to US aircraft carriers.
“The missile is still undergoing experimental testing and will be used as a defensive weapon when it is successfully developed, not an offensive one,” People’s Liberation Army Chief of the General Staff Chen Bingde (陳炳德) told reporters at a joint press conference with chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff Admiral Mike Mullen in Beijing on Monday.
“It is a high-tech weapon and we face many difficulties in getting funding, advanced technologies and high-quality personnel, which are all underlying reasons why it is hard to develop this,” he said.
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