China says its aircraft carrier succeeds in maiden sea trials

China says the maiden sea trial of the country's refitted aircraft carrier has attained its objectives. National Defense Ministry spokesperson Yang Yujun said at a press briefing on Wednesday that the carrier has returned to the shipyard, and all systems were operating as normal.

The vessel, former Soviet aircraft carrier Varyag, has been totally refitted for its new role as a research and training platform for the Chinese military. The vessel departed from a port in Dalian, a city in northeast China's Liaoning Province on August 10th.

Yang said the Chinese Navy's inshore defense strategy and the defensive nature of the country's national defense policy will not change, despite the country's development of advanced weaponry.