Members of the Chinese Navy, a division of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA), shouting while marching during a welcoming ceremony at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.(Getty Images)Region Sees China Aircraft Carrier As Symbolic Of Shifting Military Balance: US Pacific Chief -- Canadian Press/AP
WASHINGTON — China's first aircraft carrier could begin sea trials as early as this summer and its deployment would significantly change the perception of the balance of power in the region, the chief of U.S. forces in the Pacific said Tuesday.
China bought the vessel from Ukraine more than a decade ago, and it is viewed as emblematic of the communist state's ambition to be a military power that can challenge America's decadeslong supremacy in the west Pacific. China's state news agency this month carried photos of the carrier in what it said was the final stages of reconstruction.
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More News On China's Navy
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Ming Dynasty admiral spooks Taiwan -- Jens Kastner, Asia Times
Chinese aircraft carrier nears completion -- Taipei Times
Chinese navy gets aircraft carrier -- The Australian
Chinese aircraft carrier could threaten Taiwan: Navy veteran -- Focus Taiwan
70-year dream of aircraft carrier close to reality -- South China Morning post
China’s Maritime Disputes Fueled by Need for Energy -- Voice of America
China’s Navy: Rising Threat -- The Algemeiner
What China's 1st Aircraft Carrier Means for the Region -- Chosun Ilbo