(XINHUA)

Defense Ministry spokesman Geng Yansheng confirmed at a press conference in Beijing on July 27 China is refitting an imported aircraft carrier for scientific research and training.

The carrier was an empty shell purchased from Ukraine in 1998. It was originally built by the former Soviet Union but was not completed before that country's collapse in 1991. Ukraine disarmed the vessel and removed its engines before selling it to China.

The carrier is a conventionally powered medium-sized vessel. It will be equipped with indigenous Chinese engines, aircraft, radar and other hardware.

Once the refitting is completed, China will become the last of the five permanent members of the UN Security Council to own an aircraft carrier.