The former aircraft carrier Varyag, Ukraine will become the carrier of Chinese pertamaKepala of staff of the Chinese people's Liberation Army (PLA) confirmed that the Chinese central building their first aircraft carrier.
General Chen Bingde refused to say when the carriers can be operated. This is a modification of the ship, the aircraft carrier Varyag in the Soviet era belongs to Ukraine.
A member of his staff said the aircraft carrier it would not be a threat to any country.
The ship was built at the port of Dalian, Northeast China is one of the projects that are not successfully concealed the Chinese Government.
General Chen issued this statement in the newspaper, Hong Kong Commercial Daily.
PLA, the world's largest army, very tight secrecy their defense programs.
Ships with a length of 300 metres is almost complete and expected to start doing test cruise this year.
However the BBC correspondent in Beijing, Michael Bristow said, that doesn't mean she will be immediately ready to perform the task.
Learn how to operate the former aircraft carrier Ukraine and then flew from it, according to a BBC correspondent, may need a few more years.
Lieutenant General Qi Jiangua, Assistant Chief of staff said a newspaper Commercial Daily, even if the carrier is used, the ship was "it's certainly not going to sail into the territorial waters of other countries".
"All great Nations in the world have their own carrier, it is a symbol of the keberasan of a nation," said Qi as quoted by the newspaper.
China currently has its border problems with some neighboring countries. But Lt. Gen. Qi said China has always followed the principles of "survive" for his military strategies.
"It would be better for us if we act more quickly in the understanding of the ocean and map our maritime capabilities it early," said Qi Jianghua.
"We now face enormous pressure on some of the ocean, whether it is in the South China Sea, East China Sea, Yellow Sea or the Straits of Taiwan," said Qi Juanghua refer to the contested waters-waters of China with neighboring countries.