Carrier-based air unit set to patrol ocean spaces

The People's Liberation Army, which celebrated the 89th anniversary of its foundation on Monday, is building up a naval-aviation division to safeguard China's maritime interests. Zhao Lei reports.

For most Chinese people, the People's Liberation Army Navy's aircraft carrier and carrier-based aviation force are some of the most mysterious military units, and also the ones they most want to know about.

Only a very small number of people outside the PLA, which was founded on Aug 1, 1927, have been invited to visit the CNS Liaoning, China's first aircraft carrier. Everyone else merely sees the colossal vessel and its planes once or twice a year on the TV news.