ISLAMABAD: China plans a second and larger aircraft carrier after commissioning its first such ship last year.
"China will have more than one aircraft carrier," said Song Xue, deputy chief of staff of China's navy, Xinhua news agency reported.
"We hope the next aircraft carrier can be bigger, because then it would be able to carry more aircraft and be more powerful".
Song Xue apparently provided no details on whether the vessel would be constructed or purchased.
China's first aircraft carrier, the Liaoning, went into service in September.
Beijing purchased the carrier from Ukraine before refurbishing it. The vessel had originally been commissioned by the former Soviet Union, but work halted with its collapse.
The Liaoning, named after a northeastern Chinese province, is not expected to be fully operational for several years, although late last year China conducted the first landing of a fighter jet on the vessel.
<Center><b><i>Copyright APP (Associated Press of Pakistan), 2013</b></i></center>
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