Pakistanis angry over detentions in Times Sq. case Monday, May 24, 2010
ISLAMABAD – Relatives of three men detained by Pakistan for alleged links to the suspect in the attempted Times Square bombing say the men are innocent.
They
AFP - Thursday, August 6TAIPEI (AFP) - - Taiwan's Beijing-friendly government on Wednesday denied boycotting an Australian film festival amid a row over the e
BERLIN (Reuters) - Chancellor Angela Merkel suffered a double blow on Thursday as a senior party ally in east German
Minister seeks closure of anti-Berlusconi websites Wednesday, December 16, 2009
ROME (AFP) - – The Italian government moved Tuesday to close down Internet sites encouraging further violence against Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, who
By ELAINE KURTENBACH,AP Business Writer AP - Wednesday, March 18SHANGHAI - Asia's stock market rally seemed to be running out of steam Wednesday, despite an
Navigation
Primary Navigation
Home
Singapore
Asia Pacific
World
Business
Entertainment
Sports
Technology
Top Stories
Most Popular
Secondary Navigation
Australia
China
India
Indonesia
Japan
Malaysia
Philippines
Thailand
Vietnam
Search
Search:
China to consider building aircraft carrier
AP - Wednesday, December 24
BEIJING - China will "seriously consider" building its first aircraft carrier, the Ministry of National Defense said Tuesday in another sign of Beijing's expanding military ambitions.
An aircraft carrier is "a symbol of a country's overall national strength as well as the competitiveness of the country's naval force," said ministry spokesman Senior Col. Huang Xueping. He said China must ensure its maritime security and sovereignty but gave no timetable for launching such a vessel.
China's navy usually stays close to its shores, though the government said Tuesday that it will send three ships to the Indian Ocean to deter pirate attacks on Chinese vessels.
An aircraft carrier would allow China's navy to fight farther out at sea by providing air cover in places that land-based planes cannot reach. Military analysts see a Chinese aircraft carrier mainly as a deterrent to U.S. intervention in a possible conflict over Taiwan, the self-ruled island that Beijing claims as part of its territory.
"The Chinese government will take into overall account all of the relevant factors and seriously consider the relevant issue," Huang said at a news conference in response to question about whether the time was right for China to build an aircraft carrier.
China's neighbors have been closely watching its possible ambitions to extend the reach of its military as defense spending has grown by double-digit rates in recent years.
Beijing's reported military budget this year was 417.8 billion yuan ($58.76 billion), up 17.6 percent from 2007.
An aircraft carrier also could give Beijing an edge in any conflict over the South China Sea, where it has conflicting claims with neighboring governments over large areas.
Email Story
IM Story
Printable View
Blog This
Recommend this article
Average (0 votes)
Sign in to recommend this article »
Most Recommended Stories »
Related Articles: Asia Pacific
Indian leader: Nobody wants warAP - 43 minutes ago
Police say they foiled attack in Indian KashmirAP - 55 minutes ago
Indonesia sees drop in tourism spending next yearReuters - 1 hour 31 minutes ago
China calls for return of Guantanamo Bay inmatesAP - 1 hour 42 minutes ago
Philippines names 3 to panel for rebel peace talksAP - 1 hour 56 minutes ago
Most Popular – Asia Pacific
Viewed
OECD forecast deepens gloom as world stocks slip
Quake zone hero pig named China's animal of the year
Two Chinese giant pandas head for Taiwan
Actress Jennifer Aniston appears naked in GQ magazine
Weak sales could topple US carmakers despite bailout
View Complete List »
Search:
Home
Singapore
Asia Pacific
World
Business
Entertainment
Sports
Technology
Top Stories
Most Popular