China's Carrier Made from Soviet Warship

A senior Chinese general has for the first time officially confirmed that the country is building an aircraft carrier. According to experts and media reports, the vessel is the half-built Soviet warship Varyag, which China bought and is completing. The ship is not ready yet, Colonel General Chen Bingde, head of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) general staff said in an interview with Hong Kong Commercial Daily. His aide Lieutenant General Qi Jianguo said the ship, when it is ready, will serve as a floating training camp for Navy pilots. It will not be sent on missions to territorial waters of other countries "unlike some other nations do," the general said.