The Chinese seek to be a naval power for the first time in many centuries

The Russian Aircraft Carrier Kuznetsov (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The Peoples Republic now has an aircraft carrier... it's used and there are no planes on it:

http://behindthewall.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/09/25/14092055-china-brings-its-first-aircraft-carrier-into-service-joining-9-nation-club?chromedomain=worldnews&lite#&ocid=ansmsnbc11

Here's a brief history of the road to the flattop:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_aircraft_carrier_programme

And here's a brief history of Chinese naval power, or lack thereof, through the ages:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naval_history_of_China

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