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China will develop an aircraft carrier in line with its status as a major global power, state press on Monday reported the nation’s defense minister as saying.
The comments by Liang Guanglie, which came shortly after a spike in tensions when Chinese vessels confronted a United States naval surveillance ship, are the latest high-level confirmation that Beijing is beefing up its military.
Beijing also reacted angrily to a Philippine law passed earlier this month that laid claim to parts of the Spratly Islands in the South China Sea which are claimed by China and other nations in the region.
China described the law as “illegal and invalid” and dispatched a civilian patrol boat to the region.
Liang told visiting Japanese Defense Minister Yasukazu Hamada on Friday of China’s ambition, according to reports carried widely by the state press.
“Among the big nations, only China does not have an aircraft carrier. China cannot be without an aircraft carrier forever,” the Oriental Morning Post—citing official Japanese sources—quoted Liang as saying.
“China’s navy is currently rather weak,” he added, “we need to develop an aircraft carrier.”
Senior members of the People’s Liberation Army have also called in recent months for China to acquire its first aircraft carrier, a sophisticated piece of military hardware that can be used to project power far beyond a nation’s shores.
“Building aircraft carriers is a symbol of an important nation. It is very necessary,” the China Daily paper quoted Admiral Hu Yanlin as saying earlier this month.
“China has the capability to build aircraft carriers and should do so.”
The defense ministry refused to immediately comment on Liang’s remarks, but in December, ministry spokesperson Huang Xueping told reporters that China would “seriously” consider getting an aircraft carrier.
Liang was speaking after Chinese vessels confronted—and nearly collided with—a US naval surveillance ship early in March in what Washington says are international waters off south China.
source: newsinfo.inquirer.net
The comments by Liang Guanglie, which came shortly after a spike in tensions when Chinese vessels confronted a United States naval surveillance ship, are the latest high-level confirmation that Beijing is beefing up its military.
Beijing also reacted angrily to a Philippine law passed earlier this month that laid claim to parts of the Spratly Islands in the South China Sea which are claimed by China and other nations in the region.
China described the law as “illegal and invalid” and dispatched a civilian patrol boat to the region.
Liang told visiting Japanese Defense Minister Yasukazu Hamada on Friday of China’s ambition, according to reports carried widely by the state press.
“Among the big nations, only China does not have an aircraft carrier. China cannot be without an aircraft carrier forever,” the Oriental Morning Post—citing official Japanese sources—quoted Liang as saying.
“China’s navy is currently rather weak,” he added, “we need to develop an aircraft carrier.”
Senior members of the People’s Liberation Army have also called in recent months for China to acquire its first aircraft carrier, a sophisticated piece of military hardware that can be used to project power far beyond a nation’s shores.
“Building aircraft carriers is a symbol of an important nation. It is very necessary,” the China Daily paper quoted Admiral Hu Yanlin as saying earlier this month.
“China has the capability to build aircraft carriers and should do so.”
The defense ministry refused to immediately comment on Liang’s remarks, but in December, ministry spokesperson Huang Xueping told reporters that China would “seriously” consider getting an aircraft carrier.
Liang was speaking after Chinese vessels confronted—and nearly collided with—a US naval surveillance ship early in March in what Washington says are international waters off south China.
source: newsinfo.inquirer.net
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