Zitat:Smiles in Beijing and aircraft carriers in southern seas

12:24 13/07/2011
RIA Novosti political commentator Dmitry Kosyrev

The Chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, Adm. Mike Mullen, has virtually completed his four-day visit to China that started on July 10. He will visit Chinese military installations in Shandong and Zhejiang, but the political portion of the trip is over, and China has little reason to be happy about the visit.
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Today, China does not have a fleet of aircraft carriers like the United States. This year, it will launch the aircraft carrier Shi Lang - formerly, the Soviet Varyag, which the Ukrainians sold to Beijing as scrap. China will commission two similar ships and two nuclear-powered aircraft carriers between 2015 and 2020 - exactly the timeframe in which the Chinese economy is expected to overtake the U.S., should nothing go wrong. They will be deployed in the southern seas, including the Indian Ocean.

Meanwhile, as long as the United States maintains its edge in the Pacific, it will take full advantage of it, no matter what Mullen may have negotiated in Beijing.

The views expressed in this article are the author's and may not necessarily represent those of RIA Novosti.

Zitat:China boosts naval power with carrier program: sources

By Ben Blanchard and Benjamin Lim

BEIJING | Wed Jul 27, 2011 12:41pm EDT

BEIJING (Reuters) - China is building two aircraft carriers as part of a military modernization program that is causing concern among other Asian countries, sources said on Wednesday.
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Zitat:China refitting aircraft carrier body for research, training

(Source: Xinhua) 2011-07-27

Spokesman of China's Defense Ministry Geng Yansheng speaks on a press conference in Beijing, capital of China, July 27, 2011. 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. (Xinhua/Li Gang)

　　BEIJING, July 27 (Xinhua)
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Zitat:China says rebuilt aircraft carrier for research

The Associated Press

Date: Wednesday Jul. 27, 2011 6:50 AM ET

BEIJING — China officially acknowledged Wednesday that it is rebuilding an aircraft carrier bought more than a decade ago, but says the refurbished ship will be used only for research and training -- a strong indication it plans to build carriers of its own.
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Zitat:In pictures: aircraft carrier body refitted for research, training

(Source: Xinhua) 2011-07-27
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Zitat:With or without aircraft carrier, China pursues peaceful development

(Source: Xinhua) 2011-07-28
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Zitat:PLA Daily commentator: China’s aircraft carrier program represents active move of peaceful development

(Source: PLA Daily) 2011-07-28
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Zitat:Aircraft carrier reasonable for China's peaceful development: newspaper

(Source: Xinhua) 2011-07-29
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Zitat:...
28 July

CHINA
Nearly daily official statements on the usefulness of aircraft carriers “for peace and stability” suggest start of VARYAG sea trials imminent
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Zitat:30. 07. 2011
China berechtigt zum Besitz eines Flugzeugträgers

Chinesische Militärexperten sagten am Donnerstag, China als Land, das von ausländischen Flugzeugträgern umgeben sei, müsse Flugzeugträger haben, um die nationale Sicherheit und Entwicklung zu gewährleisten.

Die chinesische Regierung bestätigte am Mittwoch, dass das Land einen Flugzeugträger aus der Sowjet-Ära neu ausrüste. Am Donnerstag sagten von Xinhua interviewte Militärexperten, China sei umgeben von ausländischen Flugzeugträgern und Kampfschiffen im umgebenden Meer. Derzeit ist China das einzige Land unter den fünf permanenten Mitgliedern des UN-Sicherheitsrats, das keinen aktiven Flugzeugträger hat. "Die USA betreiben elf Träger-Kampfeinheiten und setzen sechs von ihnen in der Pazifik-Region ein", so Admiral Yin Zhuo, Direktor des Expertenkonsultationskomitees der Marine der Chinesischen Volksbefreiungsarmee. Nachbarländer Chinas, wie Indien und Russland, hätten ebenfalls Flugzeugträger und entwickelten ihre Waffensysteme, während Japan und Südkorea Kampfschiffe erworben haben, die als Flugzeugträger genutzt werden könnten, je nachdem, ob sie die vertikal landenden F-35B-Jets kaufen, so Yin.

"Andere Länder sollten nicht überrascht darüber sein, dass China einen Flugzeugträger für Übungszwecke neu ausrüstet", so Li Jie,
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"Die Luftwaffe und die Schiffe der Marine können keine koordinierte Macht auf hoher See bilden", so Yin. Die Marine habe von Einsatztruppen in somalischen Gewässern und Libyen erfahren, dass ein Flugzeugträger ein Muss ist, um die nationale Sicherheit und Interessen besser zu schützen.
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Zitat:...
31 July

CHINA
Aircraft carrier VARYAG shortly prior sailing for first sea trials. All scaffolding removed; some 200 crew observed in muster on deck, suggesting navy has officially taken over the ship. Official statement names commanding officer (50-year old captain), who has been on board since December.
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01 August

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CHINA
More rumours on allegedly begun construction of indigenous aircraft carrier … at the Changxing Island Shipyard in Shanghai. US “defence official” tells US paper “satellite pictures show one carrier under construction, similar to VARYAG with ski-jump”.
(rmks: if construction really has begun, it should be much too early for establishing any such similarities to VARYAG) ....

Zitat:...
01 August

CHINA
Chinese army (PLA) introduces new indigenous hovercraft, especially designed for frontier defence boat troop units to patrol border rivers … first boat immediately begins patrolling the Argun river (border with Russia).

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03 August

CHINA
Update VARYAG: latest photo shows flight deck completely cleared; main engine obviously fired up (smoke), auxiliary engines running (cooling water)
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04 August

CHINA
Chinese navy training squadron with frigate LUOYANG and training ship ZHENGHE begin a visit to North Korea … until 08 Aug … on the occasion of 50th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation and Mutual Assistance between the two countries.
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Zitat:9 commanders for China's first aircraft carrier

Shanghai Daily, August 6, 2011

Adjust font size:

Nine top Chinese naval captains are to take command of the country's first aircraft carrier in turns.

The vessel, which is near completion, will be used to train pilots and crews for future aircraft carriers.

The nine, of senior colonel or higher rank, are graduates of the country's first warship academy class in 1987 for aircraft carrier commanders, the International Herald Leader, a Beijing-based newspaper, reported yesterday.....

Zitat:China bereitet sich auf "Muifa" vor
Hunderttausende fliehen vor Taifun

China bereitet sich auf den herannahenden Taifun "Muifa" vor. An der Ostküste wurden mehr als 280.000 Menschen in Sicherheit gebraucht. Tausende Schiffe wurden in die Häfen zurückgerufen. Fluggesellschaften strichen mehr als 200 geplante Verbindungen.
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Stand: 06.08.2011 13:18 Uhr