Good afternoon and welcome to our live coverage of the Defense Ministry’s first official confirmation that China is in pursuit of an aircraft carrier program. Here we will bring you the latest developments on this breaking news story.

16:20

Q: Does the aircraft carrier mean the improvement of the battle effectiveness?

A：Recently, we have noticed a lot of reports about the aircraft carrier. Some reports said it is very powerful and some said it is weak. It is both inaccurate to overestimate or underestimate the aircraft carrier’s function. The construction and operation of an aircraft carrier is an integration of various weapons and equipment and it needs a multi-side cooperation. That is a long-term process. The work of researching and constructing the aircraft carrier fully demonstrates the modernization of the PLA and it will play a leading role.

 

16:08

China Daily: Will the trial voyage take place on August 1 (Army Day)? Is this carrier meant to deter relevant countries, given the complicated South China Sea situation?

Geng Yansheng: The specific time of the trial depends on the progress of the whole project. The time of revealing the carrier’s information has nothing to do with the South China Sea situation. We all know building a carrier is a complex project that takes a lot of time. It’s appropriate that we disclosed some of its information at this period in time.

15:56

Geng Yansheng: It needs to explain that the training and cultivation of carrier-borne aircraft pilots mainly rely on our own efforts and I think everyone will know who the captain of the aircraft carrier is.

15:54

Geng Yansheng: I already answered the question about the specific time of the aircraft carrier’s first trial at sea. Nurturing talents for the carrier is important part of the whole carrier project. A very important job is training carrier-borne aircraft pilots, which is underway.

15:52

Q: Does the aircraft carrier mean that China will change its defensive national defense policy?

A: China’s research on the development of the aircraft carriers is to promote the capabilities in maintaining peace and safeguarding the national security. China will not change its defense policy or its offshore defense strategies.

Defense Ministry spokesman Geng Yansheng answers questions during a news conference in Beijing, July 27, 2011.[Photo/Xinhua]

15:45

Defense Ministry spokesman Geng Yansheng said China will stick to the road of peaceful development. He said defending national security and sovereignty over the state’s territorial sea is the duty of China’s armed forces.

15:25

China's Defense Ministry said on Wednesday that the country is making use of an imported aircraft carrier body for refitting to be used for scientific research, experiment and training.

It was the first time for China to officially confirm it is in pursuit of an aircraft carrier program.