China's first aircraft carrier, known by its Russian name Varyag, is beginning sea trials amidst intense interest and enthusiasm in China. VOA: China's first aircraft carrier set sail for the first time Wednesday, steaming out of the northeastern port of Dalian for a long-awaited sea trial. While the voyage of the ship, known here by its Russian name Varyag, is a source of national pride, it is also raising concerns among China's neighbors. In the late 1990s, China purchased the empty shell of the aircraft carrier from Ukraine. The vessel was built by the Soviet Union in the 1980s but ownership was transferred to Ukraine after the former communist government collapsed. Since then, it has been the source of much speculation and discussion in military circles and highly anticipated by military enthusiasts in China. For the past few weeks, Chinese state television and online military news websites have been following the ship's preparations on a daily basis. China claims to want to...(Read Full Post)