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| The Shi Lang |
Until 2010 China was the only country without an active carrier among the permanent members of the United Nations Security Council.
In 2009 China’s defense minister, Liang Guanglie told the Japan’s defense minister that among all the big nations his country (China) was the only one without an aircraft carrier.
A month later one among the Chinese admiral, Hu Yanlin said that “Building aircraft carriers is a symbol of an important nation. It is very necessary…China has the capability to build aircraft carriers and should do so.”
Also before retiring in 1997 the China’s top naval officer Liu Huaqing wrote that aircraft carriers (plural) were “extremely necessary” for China: 1) to protect its sovereignty and maritime resources, especially regarding Taiwan and the South China Seas; 2) to guard China’s shipping and commerce regionally and around the world; 3) to keep up with its neighbors, India and Japan; and 4) to give China a decisive edge in any future naval warfare.
Finally, in June 2011 china announced to have her first aircraft carrier called Shi Lang, named after a Ming admiral who helped the Qing conquer the Kingdom of Tungning (now Taiwan) in 1681.
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