China’s aircraft carriers will operate in the world’s oceans, ex-colonel says
- Larger number of warships became necessary for missions further afield than South China Sea and Taiwan, retired senior colonel tells mainland media
- Aircraft carriers will appear on the high seas because, having acquired them, the country can hardly leave them in port, he says
China is building more vessels than it would need for operations close to its coast, because of its expanding overseas interests, a former Chinese colonel has said.
“The aircraft carrier itself is an open sea combat platform,” he was quoted as saying on Sunday by state-owned China Global Television Network. “It is impossible for us to design or manufacture such a large aircraft carrier and just put it at home.
“Therefore, in the future, Chinese aircraft carriers will definitely appear on the high seas of the world. The training for our aircraft carriers in the Pacific Ocean is going further and further, and has gone beyond the first island chain.”
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The main security threats facing China were mainly from maritime areas, Zhou said, emphasising the navy’s increasing importance.