US praises China footage of aircraft carrier

WASHINGTON—The United States on Friday welcomed China’s rare public mention that it is building its first aircraft carrier, calling it a step toward better transparency between the Pacific powers.

State television on Wednesday broadcast footage of the old Soviet ship, which is being refitted in the port city of Dalian. The defense ministry said the carrier would be used for “scientific research, experiments and training.”

Pentagon spokesman Colonel Dave Lapan said that the United States was already aware of China’s aircraft carrier project, but welcomed the unusual public comments.

“That’s a good sign to us. We’ve always talked about the need for transparency so that we better understand what their intentions are,” Lapan told reporters.

The carrier’s “development was not a surprise, but it’s at least a positive sign that they are being more forthcoming,” he said.

China showed footage of the carrier at a time of tensions on the South China Sea with Vietnam and the Philippines. China’s defense ministry did not say when the carrier would be unveiled.

Admiral Mike Mullen, chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, discussed the aircraft carrier earlier in July when he became the first US military chief to visit China since 2007.

At a joint news conference, his Chinese counterpart General Chen Bingde defended the project and noted that the United States has 11 aircraft carriers in service.

“China is a big country (and) we only have quite a number of ships, but small ships. And this is not commensurate with the status of the country of China,” Chen said.

Mullen has strongly advocated military dialogue with China, saying it will be crucial to avoiding miscalculations as Beijing sharply expands its defense budget, even if the two nations disagree on a range of issues.

Mullen has said that a decision will be made by October 1 on whether to sell F-16 fighter jets to Taiwan, which fears that China is increasing its military edge over the island.