INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
China has begun sea trials of its first self-made aircraft carrier known presently as 'Type 001A'New Delhi / Beijing:
China's first domestically manufactured aircraft carrier started sea trials today, state media said, as the country prepares to add a
second such warship to its naval fleet
China's first aircraft carrier - Liaoning - was also a 'Type 001 aircraft carrier
The Liaoning was originally a Kuznetsov-class aircraft cruiser for the Soviet Navy in the mid-1980s.China's second aircraft carrier, known
till now only as "Type 001A", set out for the trials this morning, according to official news agency Xinhua, while state broadcaster CCTV
said the ship left a port in northeastern China around 6:45 am (2245 GMT Saturday).Expected to be commissioned by 2020, the ship will give
China a second aircraft carrier to boost its navy as it asserts its claims in the disputed South China Sea and seeks to deter any
independence movements in Taiwan. China's first self-made aircraft carrier 'Type 001A' is expected to join the PLA Navy by 2020China's sole
operational aircraft carrier, the Liaoning, is a repurposed Soviet ship bought from Ukraine, which went into service in 2012.The possession
of a native aircraft carrier places China among the few military powers with such vessels, including the United States, Russia, Britain and
India.India's INS Vikrant, which was launched in 2013 and is expected to go to sea trial in December 2018, is the country's first self-made
China and India have been seen to rapidly modernise their militaries, especially the navy, which both countries believe will play a crucial
role in the Indian-ocean and Indo-Pacific regions.With the induction of INS Vikrant and 'Type 001A', both India and China will have two
operational aircraft carriers
However, despite these efforts, they would still be no match in size or range to the nuclear-powered vessels of the United States Navy,
which has 11 carriers.Beijing and New Delhi have embarked on an extensive project to build a "blue water" navy and modernise its over
million-strong militaries.China's 'Type 001A' aircraft carrier will displace 55,000 tonnes and use conventional rather than nuclear
propulsion, according to China's defence ministry.Chinese experts estimates the carrier could be ready for action in about two years after
further tests.(With inputs from AFP)
