SitiWanMahani - Kapal pengangkut pesawat pertama China, 66,000 tan Liaoning, berjaya menamatkan siri ujian di Laut China Selatan kawasan yang dipertikaikan, lapor media. Latih tubi telah dijalankan di luar pantai Pulau Hainan dan menandakan kali pertama negara telah menghantar pembawa ke Laut China Selatan, dan kali pertama seseorang telah maneuvered dengan sekumpulan serangan kapal2 pengiring.
Televisyen negara China mendedahkan bahawa Liaoning yang diapit oleh 2 kapal pemusnah, dua kapal frigat, kapal terbang dan kapal selam semasa latihan. Ini ujian awam terbaru datang sebagai China terus menggunakan kekerasan tentera laut yang semakin meningkat untuk menyokong tuntutan mereka di kawasan yang kaya dengan gas dan minyak di Laut China Selatan.
Berkembang belanjawan ketenteraan di negara ini juga telah menimbulkan kebimbangan pertempuran dengan negara-negara lain di rantau ini, termasuk Filipina dan Vietnam. Tentera Laut Amerika Syarikat telah berkata bahawa USS Cowpens sempit dielakkan berlanggar dengan sebuah kapal perang Cina mengiringi Liaoning semasa beroperasi di perairan antarabangsa pada 5 Disember. China telah mendakwa bahawa Cowpens telah “memberi AMARAN" operasi dan “sengaja” meletakkan pesawat di bawah pengawasan.
China's
first aircraft carrier completes manoevres
in South China Sea . . .
China's first aircraft carrier, the 66,000 tonne Liaoning, successfully completed a series of tests in the disputed South China Sea region, state media reported. The drills were carried out off the coast of Hainan Island and marked the first time the country has sent a carrier into the South China Sea, and the first time one has manoeuvred with a strike group of escort ships.
China state television revealed that the Liaoning was flanked by two destroyers, two frigates, aircraft and submarines during the drills. This latest public test comes as China continues to use its growing naval force to back their claim of rich areas of gas and oil in the South China Sea.
Growing military budgets in the country have also raised fears of clashes with other countries in the region, including the Philippines and Vietnam. The US Navy has said that the USS Cowpens narrowly avoided colliding with a Chinese warship escorting the Liaoning while operating in international waters on December 5.
China has claimed that the Cowpens was "warned" of the operations and is "intentionally" putting the aircraft carrier under surveillance. Report by Laurie Blake.
