U.S. Defense Secretary Hagel Gets A Tour Of China's Newest Aircraft Carrier

U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel Becomes First Official Visitor From Outside China To Be Allowed On Board Their TOP SECRET Secret Aircraft Carrier -- Daily Mail

* The Liaoning is a 60,000-tonne, Soviet-era ship bought from Ukraine in 1998
* It is seen as potent symbol of China's growing military muscle
* This was the latest stop on Hagel's 10-day tour of the Asia Pacific region
* Experts say Beijing is trying to quell U.S. criticism that it not transparent about its military buildup

U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel visited China's sole aircraft carrier on Monday in an unprecedented opening by normally-secretive Beijing to a potent symbol of its military buildup.

A U.S. official said the visit to the carrier the Liaoning, at a port in the northern city of Qingdao, lasted about two hours. No other details were immediately available.

The official believed Hagel was the first official visitor from overseas to be allowed on board the Liaoning in a sign that China is responding to U.S. criticism over it's lack of transparency regarding its growing weapons programme.

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