Experts defend naval rights

Military experts yesterday defended China's right to possess aircraft carriers and reconfirmed the country's defense policy. The comments follow remarks by a senior Chinese military official on the issue, which sparked speculation overseas.

In an interview published by the London-based Financial Times on Monday, Major-General Qian Lihua, director of the foreign affairs office under the Ministry of National Defense, said China has every right to build an aircraft carrier, without revealing whether it has decided to do so.

"The navy of any great power has the dream to have one or more aircraft carriers," Qian said. "The question is not whether you have an aircraft carrier, but what you do with your aircraft carrier," he said.