Article Posted on : - Sep 14, 2010

A file photo.

BEIJING (PTI): China is building an aircraft carrier, close on the heels of developing carrier-killer missiles and advanced nuclear submarines, with the confirmation of it coming from none other than Maj Gen Mao Xinyu, the grandson of Mao Zedong.

The Mao junior, who has been a strong advocate of the Chinese Navy acquiring the big ships to counter US naval superiority, confirmed that Chinese marine forces were building a carrier, without specifying its tonnage.

"As a General, I was very interested in the development of the Second Artillery Corps and our Marine forces. I am glad to know that the marines are constructing the first aircraft carrier," the General was quoted as saying by the web edition of the state run 'Global Times' Tuesday.

Despite building a strong navy with a host of warships and submarines, China so far did not have an aircraft carrier and speculation has been rife in the West that Beijing is building one, but there was no confirmation so far.

Recently, influential Japanese daily 'The Asahi Shimbun' had said that China would produce its first aircraft carrier within five years.

US naval intelligence sources have said that China is building two 50,000-60,000 ton aircraft carriers to be equipped with Russian SU-22 fighters. These are expected to be ready by 2015.

There have also been reports that China may opt to build nuclear powered carriers.

There is a steady build of public opinion by official media in recent weeks for developing carriers in the light of steady rise in military tensions in the Korean peninsula as well as China's plans to build dominant blue water navy on the lines of its rival US.

According to US sources, China is almost ready to deploy its 1500 kms range anti-ship carrier killer missile, capable of destroying aircraft carriers from a long distance.

Mao Junior has recently been promoted as Major General in the Peoples Liberation Army, (PLA) and has been campaigning for an aircraft carrier.

The confirmation that China is building a carrier coming from him is regarded as important as he serves as the Deputy Director of Department of War theory and strategic research at the Chinese Academy of Military Sciences.

"Like all Chinese, I hope our marines can have an aircraft-carrier. This is a matter of national dignity as well as sovereignty. As long as we have our own aircraft carrier, the naming of it (after Mao) is no big deal," he said in an interaction with media in connection with the 34th death anniversary of his grandfather, the architect of China's revolution.

Mao Junior has also said the Chinese military should strictly function under the guidance and the ruling communist party.

Asked about the US Rand Corporation report that it was not modernisation of the Chinese army that world should worry but the thoughts of Mao Zedong, Mao Junior said Rand report was confident that in terms of modernisation, Chinese troops wouldn't match the American military.

"However we have the Mao Zedong thoughts, our precious tradition, which made us invincible (in Korean and Vietnam Wars). We should uphold two principles. The first is the Party guides the gun, and our troops can only achieve victory under the leadership of the Party."

The Mao Junior in public comments was forthcoming on China's plans to modernise its armed forces as also to carry out their downsizing.

On the downsizing of the two million strong PLA, he said "Chinese troops started downsizing (the force) when the reform and opening up began. The first time was in 1984 by Comrade Deng Xiaoping. Millions were discharged from the army. There were two more campaigns in the 1990s."

"My personal view is that the discharges have increased the combat effectiveness of the army and it is also important for the modernization process of Chinese troops and military defence."

"There will be digital troops in the future, and we will fight digital battles, which are shorter and don't need so many soldiers. At the same time we are faced with the two responsibilities; a higher degree of mechanisation and transition to information war," he said.