Beijing may build carrier

[NNN0LHI]

http://www.thestandard.com.hk/stdn/std/China/GF17Ad03.html

China is considering building an aircraft carrier, said a vice minister in charge of national defense, while emphasizing the country's only military interest is defense.

"China's focus is on a peaceful rise,'' said Zhang Guangqin, vice minister of the Commission of Science, Technology and Industry for National Defense. "Our national defense policy is only to protect China's maritime territories. However, relevant government agencies are looking into this matter of building an aircraft carrier.''

Getting advanced technology to upgrade its defense industry is a national priority for China, which announced Tuesday it will ask the European Union to reconsider its decision to delay ending a 16-year arms embargo against the country.

[IndianaGreen]

1. As the US declines under Bush, China is on the rise

There is nothing to fear. All empires are doomed to collapse, and we are no exception. We should have remained a Republic!

[lenidog]

2. Its a lot easier said than done just ask the Russians

[The Sushi Bandit]

3. yep and use US steel too!

Wal_Mart will outfit it

[barb162]

7. we make steel in this country? I thought Asia makes it all

[queeg]

4. They've bought a couple Russian half-done ones

[fasttense]

5. Oh good, maybe they will build our aircraft carriers too. n/t

[northzax]

6. have fun, kids

Carriers are money pits, you can't do a decent one for under 2-3 billion, and their entire military budget is 25 billion.

There is no doubt that if the PRC decided to build carriers, it could do so, but we're talking 15-20 years of constant development before they'll put a decent long range carrier in the water. The Soviets, for all their abilities, never pulled it off.

[blindpig]

8. Aircraft carriers are not defensive weapons

They are tools of imperium. The Chinese are anticipating our decline and are intent on being the next hegemonic power.

Better teach your children Chinese. This too will be laid at the feet of the worst president ever.