BEIJING, March 9 (Xinhua) -- The building of China's second aircraft carrier is in good shape as the hull blocks have been joined in the dock, said a senior navy official.
Wang Weiming, deputy chief of staff of the Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy, told Xinhua on the sidelines of the annual session of the National People's Congress (NPC) that the carrier is now awaiting fitting.
China's first aircraft carrier, the Liaoning, is a refitted former Soviet Union-made carrier. The second carrier, with a displacement of 50,000 tonnes, will be a base for J-15 fighters and other aircraft, according to a Defense Ministry spokesperson who confirmed its building -- completely on China's own -- in a press briefing in December 2015.
Wang, an NPC deputy, said the development of the marines is being accelerated, while the fleet of naval destroyers and frigates is growing bigger and stronger, and the navy will step up air and sea patrols.
"We will intercept any intruding aircraft and follow every military vessel in areas under our responsibility," Wang said. "Our sailors should stay vigilant and be able to deal with emergencies at all times."
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