Apr 27 (China Defense Mashup Reporting by Johnathan Weng) — This is the latest report about the China’s overhaul activities on Varyag Aircraft Carrier, which was bought from Ukraine in last century. Today (April 27), about 7:00 AM (Beijing Time), the Varyag Aircraft Carrier has departed from the dock in Dalian Shipyard. The destination place is still not clear.

In April 1998, one small Hong Kong company called the Chong Lot Travel Agency Ltd. Chong Lot won the Varyag hull sale bid of $20 million USD. The company announced that the Varyag would be converted it into a floating hotel and gambling parlor. But actually the the future of Varyag was linked to the People’s Republic of China’s People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) and its program to develop an aircraft carrier.

Since June 2005, Varyag has been staying in the shipyard of Dalian Shipbuilding Corporation. At the beginning of this year, some rumors arose that the Varyag had moved, but some witnesses proved that is is not true. This time, according to the picture, it looks real.

Just 4 days before, PLA Navy held a grand International Fleet Review off Qingdao marine area for celebrating its 60th founding anniversary. During the international naval activities in that beautiful littoral city, Xinhua news agency released an interview of Admiral Wu Shengli, who said PLA Navy wants larger combat ship. Analysers usually believe that he referred to Aircraft Carrier. Besides, Chinese Defense Minister Gen. Liang Guanglie also said that Aircraft Carrier can not be always out of consideration of PLA Navy.

Varyag is only a training platform for PLA Navy, whose indigenous 60,000-70,000 tonne carrier will produce in Shanghai this year.

News Story Update: It has been known that Varyag carrier has been moved to another dry dock, according to some photos from Chinese Internet (www.fyjs.cn).