Shi Lang: China’s First Aircraft Carrier

China, in a latest bid to propel its fast growing status as one of the world’s superpowers, recently conducted an on-sea test run for its maiden aircraft carrier. The vessel is named Shi Lang for the naval admiral who is well-remembered in the Chinese history for gaining control over the Taiwanese island in the 17^th century.

The aircraft carrier was originally built as part of the Soviet Kuznetsov fleet and was named Riga. However, on account of the dissolution of the Soviet Union, the vessel was brought to Ukraine with its name changed to Varyag in the early 90s. Continuous financial delays and problems on the part of Russia forced the Ukrainian authorities to consider selling the vessel, which was in a very precarious condition with respect to technical fittings and furnishings.

In the year 1998, the Varyag, as the vessel was originally known, was acquired by a Hong Kong based company Chong Lot, a subsidiary of the Chin Luck Company, which had strong connections to PLAN (People’s Liberation Army Navy.) Post the vessel’s sale, the resultant transference of the vessel from Ukraine to China was carried through the Black Sea and the Suez Canal as the main navigational routes and was completed in the year 2002.

According to Chinese authorities and officials, the vessel is set to be used solely for the purposes of researching and training of naval cadets.

However there are several concerns that, through the acquiring of the aircraft carrier, the nation might seek to further its naval strength to employ them to secure marine areas that they regard as their territory. One such area is the South China Sea where a recent clash between the Japanese and Chinese brought forth a tense situation for the world across.

The Shi Lang was required to have extensive refurbishing on account of its lack thereof, as aforementioned. This included effective electric supply, lighting and all other re-modifications that were felt as being necessary by its Chinese acquirers. The ship is docked at the Dalian Ship workplace, where all these refurbishments were and are being carried out. In the month of August this year, the ship underwent its first on-sea trial. According to the authorities, the refurbishments and further such on-sea runs will be continued to be carried out after the first trial is completed.

After seeing the successful on-sea demonstration of the vessel, it has been speculated that the South-Asian giants are looking to launch the vessel’s operation within the coming two years. This effective launching of operations would enable the country to stand at par along with those countries which already boast of having aircraft carrier ships.

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