China's first aircraft carrier commissioned

 DALIAN, Sept. 25 (Xinhua) -- China's first aircraft carrier was delivered and commissioned to the People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy Tuesday after years of refitting and sea trials.

Overseen¹ by President Hu Jintao and Premier² Wen Jiabao, the carrier was officially handed over by the navy's main contractor³, the China Shipbuilding Industry Corporation, at a ceremony held at a naval⁴ base in northeast China's port city of Dalian.

President Hu, also chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC), endorsed⁵ a PLA flag and naming certificate to Senior Captain China's first aircraft carrier commissioned

Zhang Zheng, commanding officer of China's first carrier, the Liaoning.

"Today will be forever remembered as China's Navy has entered an era of aircraft carrier," Zhang told Xinhua on the carrier's flight deck.

"When I received the PLA flag from the President, a strong sense of duty and commitment welled up in my heart," said Zhang who has served as commanding officer on the Navy's frigate⁶ and destroyer.

The carrier, rebuilt from the Soviet⁷ ship Varyag, was renamed "Liaoning" and underwent years of refitting efforts to install engines, weapons, as well as a year-long sea trial.

According to Mei Wen, political commissar of the carrier, the Liaoning will be operated by a well-educated and trained crew, as more than 98 percent of the commissioned officers on board hold bachelor degrees and more than 50 of them hold master or doctoral degrees.

Most of the carrier's commissioned and non-commissioned officers were selected and transferred from the Navy's other surface vessels⁸ through tough competition. Female sailors also serve at various posts on the Liaoning.

The Navy did not disclose any type of carrier-borne aircraft deployed⁹ on the Liaoning. But one maintenance officer in charge of the carrier's air wing said they would deal with engine noise and jet blast heat.

"The delivery and commission of the Liaoning is just a small step of China's aircraft carrier program and there is a long way to go before we have a powerful navy," said the commanding officer.

The delivery made China the tenth country and the last one of the five permanent members of the U.N. Security Council to have an aircraft carrier in active service.

An aircraft carrier has long been expected to join China's naval fleet to better protect territorial¹¹ waters and overseas maritime¹² interests.

Premier Wen said, in reading off a congratulatory letter sent from top central authorities, that China's first aircraft carrier in active service will "be of great and far-reaching significance in inspiring patriotism¹³, national spirit and driving national defense¹⁴ technologies."

"The PLA's General Armament Department, the Navy and all comrades participating in the carrier program should make new contributions in promoting China's weaponry construction and safeguarding national sovereignty, security and territorial integrity," Wen said.

"The country and the people appreciate (the efforts of) all participants in the aircraft carrier program," Wen said.

After the commission ceremony, President Hu boarded the Liaoning, which was in full dress, and inspected the Navy's honor guard.

President Hu expressed his appreciation¹⁵ for the construction of the Liaoning and ordered the Navy and relevant research institutes to keep up their good work.

The president and the premier later came to the carrier's flight deck and some cabins where they talked with sailors, and scientists and engineers who developed the carrier.

"Developing an aircraft carrier was an important strategic decision made by the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, the State Council and the Central Military Commission," Wen said.

"It will also be of great significance in enhancing national defense power and the country's comprehensive strength," he said.

"The delivery and commission of the first carrier is a milestone¹⁶ in the PLA's history and embodies¹⁷ a major achievement of China's weaponry and equipment development, as well as its national defense modernization," Wen said.

Yin Zhuo, an information expert in the PLA Navy, said the carrier will not change the defensive¹⁸ nature of China's defense force.

"In modern warfare¹⁹, small and medium-sized warships²⁰ are increasingly insufficient²¹ to organize active defense for China with an increased strategic depth," said Cao Weidong, a researcher with the PLA Navy's military academic research institute.

"An aircraft carrier will give the Navy defense capacity far beyond land-based aviation force's combat radius," said Fang²² Bing, an associated professor with the PLA's National Defense University.

As a weapon, an aircraft carrier can be used for both defense and offense²³, and it can also be used for humanitarian²⁴ purposes, Fang said. He added that during the World War II, aircraft carrier groups were used for the purpose of invasion by the Japanese, but for anti-invasion warfare by the allied²⁵ forces.

The delivery and commission ceremony came on the same day when the Chinese government released a white paper on the Diaoyu Islands which asserts the islands in the East China Sea "an inherent territory of China".

Fang said he did not believe that the commission of the Liaoning was specifically related to China's current dispute with Japan over the Diaoyu Islands. But he said China has zero tolerance²⁶ to foreign infringement²⁷ of the country's territorial waters, with or without an aircraft carrier.

According to the CMC, after being commissioned to the Navy, the Liaoning will continue to serve for scientific research purposes, as well as military training.

Hu and Wen were accompanied by CMC Vice¹⁰ Chairmen Guo Boxiong and Xu Caihou, as well as State Council Secretary-General Ma Kai, director of the PLA's General Armament Department Chang Wanquan and Navy Commander Wu Shengli.

China announced its aircraft carrier program in July 2011, when the carrier was berthed²⁸ in Dalian for refitting. Dalian is located at the south end of Liaoning Province.

1 overseen   

v.监督，监视( oversee的过去分词 )

参考例句：

• He was overseen stealing the letters. 他被人撞见在偷信件。 来自辞典例句
• It will be overseen by ThomasLi, director of IBM China Research Laboratory. 该实验室由IBM中国研究院院长李实恭(ThomasLi)引导。 来自互联网

2 premier   

adj.首要的；n.总理，首相

参考例句：

• The Irish Premier is paying an official visit to Britain.爱尔兰总理正在对英国进行正式访问。
• He requested that the premier grant him an internview.他要求那位总理接见他一次。

3 contractor   

n.订约人，承包人，收缩肌

参考例句：

• The Tokyo contractor was asked to kick $ 6000 back as commission.那个东京的承包商被要求退还6000美元作为佣金。
• The style of house the contractor builds depends partly on the lay of the land.承包商所建房屋的式样，有几分要看地势而定。

4 naval   

adj.海军的，军舰的，船的

参考例句：

• He took part in a great naval battle.他参加了一次大海战。
• The harbour is an important naval base.该港是一个重要的海军基地。

5 endorsed   

vt.& vi.endorse的过去式或过去分词形式v.赞同( endorse的过去式和过去分词 )；在（尤指支票的）背面签字；在（文件的）背面写评论；在广告上说本人使用并赞同某产品

参考例句：

• The committee endorsed an initiative by the chairman to enter discussion about a possible merger. 委员会通过了主席提出的新方案，开始就可能进行的并购进行讨论。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The government has broadly endorsed a research paper proposing new educational targets for 14-year-olds. 政府基本上支持建议对14 岁少年实行新教育目标的研究报告。 来自《简明英汉词典》

6 frigate   

n.护航舰，大型驱逐舰

参考例句：

• An enemy frigate bore down on the sloop.一艘敌驱逐舰向这只护航舰逼过来。
• I declare we could fight frigate.我敢说我们简直可以和一艘战舰交战。

7 Soviet   

adj.苏联的，苏维埃的；n.苏维埃

参考例句：

• Zhukov was a marshal of the former Soviet Union.朱可夫是前苏联的一位元帅。
• Germany began to attack the Soviet Union in 1941.德国在1941年开始进攻苏联。

8 vessels   

n.血管( vessel的名词复数 )；船；容器；（具有特殊品质或接受特殊品质的）人

参考例句：

• The river is navigable by vessels of up to 90 tons. 90 吨以下的船只可以从这条河通过。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• All modern vessels of any size are fitted with radar installations. 所有现代化船只都有雷达装置。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

9 deployed   

（尤指军事行动）使展开( deploy的过去式和过去分词 )； 施展； 部署； 有效地利用

参考例句：

• Tanks have been deployed all along the front line. 沿整个前线已部署了坦克。
• The artillery was deployed to bear on the fort. 火炮是对着那个碉堡部署的。

10 vice   

n.坏事；恶习；[pl.]台钳，老虎钳；adj.副的

参考例句：

• He guarded himself against vice.他避免染上坏习惯。
• They are sunk in the depth of vice.他们堕入了罪恶的深渊。

11 territorial   

adj.领土的，领地的

参考例句：

• The country is fighting to preserve its territorial integrity.该国在为保持领土的完整而进行斗争。
• They were not allowed to fish in our territorial waters.不允许他们在我国领海捕鱼。

12 maritime   

adj.海的，海事的，航海的，近海的，沿海的

参考例句：

• Many maritime people are fishermen.许多居于海滨的人是渔夫。
• The temperature change in winter is less in maritime areas.冬季沿海的温差较小。

13 patriotism   

n.爱国精神，爱国心，爱国主义

参考例句：

• His new book is a demonstration of his patriotism.他写的新书是他的爱国精神的证明。
• They obtained money under the false pretenses of patriotism.他们以虚伪的爱国主义为借口获得金钱。

14 defense   

n.防御，保卫；[pl.]防务工事；辩护，答辩

参考例句：

• The accused has the right to defense.被告人有权获得辩护。
• The war has impacted the area with military and defense workers.战争使那个地区挤满了军队和防御工程人员。

15 appreciation   

n.评价；欣赏；感谢；领会，理解；价格上涨

参考例句：

• I would like to express my appreciation and thanks to you all.我想对你们所有人表达我的感激和谢意。
• I'll be sending them a donation in appreciation of their help.我将送给他们一笔捐款以感谢他们的帮助。

16 milestone   

n.里程碑；划时代的事件

参考例句：

• The film proved to be a milestone in the history of cinema.事实证明这部影片是电影史上的一个里程碑。
• I think this is a very important milestone in the relations between our two countries.我认为这是我们两国关系中一个十分重要的里程碑。

17 embodies   

v.表现( embody的第三人称单数 )；象征；包括；包含

参考例句：

• The new treaty embodies the aspirations of most nonaligned countries. 新条约体现了大多数不结盟国家的愿望。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• This document embodies the concern of the government for the deformity. 这个文件体现了政府对残疾人的关怀。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

18 defensive   

adj.防御的；防卫的；防守的

参考例句：

• Their questions about the money put her on the defensive.他们问到钱的问题，使她警觉起来。
• The Government hastily organized defensive measures against the raids.政府急忙布置了防卫措施抵御空袭。

19 warfare   

n.战争(状态)；斗争；冲突

参考例句：

• He addressed the audience on the subject of atomic warfare.他向听众演讲有关原子战争的问题。
• Their struggle consists mainly in peasant guerrilla warfare.他们的斗争主要是农民游击战。

20 warships   

军舰，战舰( warship的名词复数 )； 舰只

参考例句：

• The enemy warships were disengaged from the battle after suffering heavy casualties. 在遭受惨重伤亡后，敌舰退出了海战。
• The government fitted out warships and sailors for them. 政府给他们配备了战舰和水手。

21 insufficient   

adj.(for，of)不足的，不够的

参考例句：

• There was insufficient evidence to convict him.没有足够证据给他定罪。
• In their day scientific knowledge was insufficient to settle the matter.在他们的时代，科学知识还不能足以解决这些问题。

22 fang   

n.尖牙，犬牙

参考例句：

• Look how the bone sticks out of the flesh like a dog's fang.瞧瞧,这根骨头从肉里露出来，象一只犬牙似的。
• The green fairy's fang thrusting between his lips.绿妖精的尖牙从他的嘴唇里龇出来。

23 offense   

n.犯规，违法行为；冒犯，得罪

参考例句：

• I hope you will not take any offense at my words. 对我讲的话请别见怪。
• His words gave great offense to everybody present.他的发言冲犯了在场的所有人。

24 humanitarian   

n.人道主义者，博爱者，基督凡人论者

参考例句：

• She has many humanitarian interests and contributes a lot to them.她拥有很多慈善事业，并作了很大的贡献。
• The British government has now suspended humanitarian aid to the area.英国政府现已暂停对这一地区的人道主义援助。

25 allied   

adj.协约国的；同盟国的

参考例句：

• Britain was allied with the United States many times in history.历史上英国曾多次与美国结盟。
• Allied forces sustained heavy losses in the first few weeks of the campaign.同盟国在最初几周内遭受了巨大的损失。

26 tolerance   

n.宽容；容忍，忍受；耐药力；公差

参考例句：

• Tolerance is one of his strengths.宽容是他的一个优点。
• Human beings have limited tolerance of noise.人类对噪音的忍耐力有限。

27 infringement   

n.违反；侵权

参考例句：

• Infringement of this regulation would automatically rule you out of the championship.违背这一规则会被自动取消参加锦标赛的资格。
• The committee ruled that the US ban constituted an infringement of free trade.委员会裁定美国的禁令对自由贸易构成了侵犯

28 berthed   

v.停泊( berth的过去式和过去分词 )；占铺位

参考例句：

• The ship is berthed at Southampton. 船停泊在南安普敦。
• We berthed our ship at dusk. 黄昏时分我们在泊位停船。 来自辞典例句