China says its carrier group has reached ‘initial’ combat readiness as tensions rise between Beijing and Washington over South China Sea
The carrier group is led by China’s first aircraft carrier, called the Liaoning
A spokesperson said today that it had reached ‘initial’ combat readiness
Also today, China called U.S. claims of it militarising South China Sea ‘ridiculous’
U.S. previously said it would confront China’s actions in the disputed waterways
DAILYMAIL.COM
31 May 2018
China’s carrier group led by the country’s first aircraft carrier, the Liaoning, has reached ‘initial’ combat readiness, the defence ministry said today.
Also today, the Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson called the U.S. assertions of China militarising the South China Sea ‘ridiculous’.
The statements were made by China’s defence ministry spokesman Senior Colonel Ren Guoqiang and China’s foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying during separate press briefings.
The news came after the U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said Washington would confront Beijing’s actions in the disputed waterways.
Mattis said on Tuesday the United States would push back against what it sees as China’s militarisation of islands in the South China Sea despite China’s condemnation of a voyage through the region on the weekend by two U.S. Navy ships.
Little is known about the aircraft carrier programme, which China regards as a state secret.
But Senior Colonel Ren’s statement has signalled another significant step in Beijing’s ambitious military modernisation programme.
The programme is a part of President Xi Jinping’s sweeping plan to refurbish the armed forces – by developing everything from stealth jets to anti-satellite missiles – as China ramps up its presence in the disputed South China Sea and around self-ruled Taiwan.
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