China adopts Western tradition of smashing champagne bottle on new aircraft carrier’s bow
But some guests attending the launch ceremony wonder why local liquor wasn’t used
China on Wednesday launched its first domestically built aircraft carrier by smashing a bottle of champagne on its prow, the first time the Western tradition has been used with a PLA warship.
But some guests attending the launch party for the still unnamed carrier at the Dalian shipyard in Liaoning province, wondered why champagne was used and not mao-tai, the Chinese liquor, naval expert Li Jie said.
“China adopted the Western tradition of smashing a bottle on the ship, signalling the Chinese aircraft carrier is drawing close to international standards,” Li said.
State media did not identify who wielded the bottle but in the West, it is usually a woman, according to Macau-based military expert Antony Wong Dong.
When the US launched its next generation aircraft carrier, the USS Gerald R. Ford, on November 12, 2013, Susan Ford Bales, daughter of the late president, was invited to smash a champagne bottle on the bow of the ship.