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Beijing denies reports about China's second aircraft carrier

THE Ministry of Defense today denied foreign media reports that China was building its second aircraft carrier in Shanghai.

"The reports are inaccurate," ministry spokesman Yang Yujun told a press conference in Beijing today, two days after the country's first aircraft carrier Liaoning was officially commissioned.

Yang said China will plan its aircraft carrier projects by taking into account the country's economic and social conditions as well as the needs of its national defense and army building.

Some foreign media claimed that China was building its second aircraft carrier on Changxing Island off Shanghai and the ship was 100 percent Chinese-made and was expected to leave the shipyard by the end of this year. However, no satellite images proved the claim.

Major General Luo Yuan, a researcher with the PLA's Military Science Academy, also said: "It is entirely possible for China to build more aircraft carriers based on the nation's economic power."

But the spokesman said, "The first aircraft carrier Liaoning will continue to conduct scientific research and experiment as well as military training. Its future use has yet to be confirmed."

Yang said the Defense Ministry is going to form an aircraft carrier fleet that will consist of aircrafts, submarines and frigates, adding that the new aircraft carrier can assume the combat role whenever necessary.

China's newly developed 052D missile destroyers are most suitable to escort the aircraft carrier, said Hu Siyuan, a professor with the National Defense University in Beijing.



 

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