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Picture of China's first refitted warship 'emerges' US satellite pictures China aircraft carrier Varyag
(about 11 hours later)
A commercial US satellite company says it has managed to take a picture of China's first aircraft carrier during its sea trials in the Yellow Sea. A commercial US satellite company says it has take a picture of China's first aircraft carrier during its sea trials in the Yellow Sea.
If confirmed, it would be the first known photo of the former Soviet vessel recently refitted by Beijing. It is believed to be the first time that the refitted Soviet vessel has been photographed sailing.
The warship began its sea trials in August, raising fresh concerns over Beijing's military build-up.The warship began its sea trials in August, raising fresh concerns over Beijing's military build-up.
China is currently involved in several maritime territorial disputes, particularly in the South China Sea.China is currently involved in several maritime territorial disputes, particularly in the South China Sea.
Stephen Wood, director of DigitalGlobe's analysis centre, said the vessel had been photographed on 8 December off the Chinese coast by one of the company's orbiting satellites, the Associated Press news agency reports. Stephen Wood, director of DigitalGlobe's analysis centre, said the vessel was photographed on 8 December off the Chinese coast by one of the company's orbiting satellites.
Mr Wood added that he was confident it was the Chinese carrier because of the location and date of the photo.Mr Wood added that he was confident it was the Chinese carrier because of the location and date of the photo.
China - which says the carrier is intended for research and training - has so far not publicly commented on the claim. China, which says the carrier is intended for research and training, has so far not publicly commented on the claim.
Maritime disputesMaritime disputes
The vessel began the trials in August at Dalian, a port in the north-eastern province of Liaoning, Chinese state media reported at the time.The vessel began the trials in August at Dalian, a port in the north-eastern province of Liaoning, Chinese state media reported at the time.
Although China is believed to be years away from being able to deploy the carrier as a powerful warship, the move has raised regional concerns, analysts say.Although China is believed to be years away from being able to deploy the carrier as a powerful warship, the move has raised regional concerns, analysts say.
In the past year alone, China has had maritime disputes with Japan, Vietnam and also the Philippines. In the past year alone, China has had maritime disputes with Japan, Vietnam and the Philippines.
The carrier is a former Soviet warship - called the Varyag - that was never completed. When the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991, its rusting hull sat in dockyards in Ukraine. The carrier is a former Soviet vessel that was never completed. When the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991, its rusting hull sat in dockyards in Ukraine.
As other Soviet warships were cut up for scrap, a Chinese company with links to China's People's Liberation Army (PLA) bought the Varyag, claiming originally that it would be turned into a floating casino. As other Soviet warships were cut up for scrap, a Chinese company with links to China's army bought the Varyag, claiming originally that it would be turned into a floating casino.
It took several years to tow it to China, where it was taken to Dalian. It took several years to tow it to the Chinese port of Dalian.
In June, the PLA confirmed that China's first aircraft carrier was under construction. In June, the military confirmed that China's first aircraft carrier was under construction.