Japan closely monitors China's aircraft carrier plan

TOKYO, March 2 (KUNA) -- Japan will closely watch China's plan to develop technologies to build its first nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, Defense Minister Itsunori Onodera said Friday.
"Our ministry will continue to pay close attention with strong interest to China's military movements, including the developments of aircraft carriers," Onodera told reporters.
The minister made remarks after the state-owned China Shipbuilding Industry Corporation earlier this week revealed the plan of building a nuclear aircraft carrier by 2025 to bolster the country's maritime defense.
"China is steadily building up its capacity to conduct operations in more distant seas," Onodera said, pointing out that China's military exercises of its first aircraft carrier, the Liaoning, in the Pacific Ocean in 2016 and the development of a domestically built aircraft carrier. (end) mk.gta