China's first aircraft carrier left Dalian port in northeastern Liaoning Province on Aug. 10 and started its first sea trial. There is a speculation that if everything goes smoothly, it will be commissioned on Oct. 1, 2012, China's national founding day.

China will probably take a few years before it can fully train pilots of carrier-borne aircraft and operate a full-fledged carrier battle group. But the aircraft carrier's sea trial began at a time when the Chinese navy is causing friction with neighboring countries such as Japan, the Philippines and Vietnam.

China regards aircraft carriers as symbols of its capabilities to project its power globally. The eventual commissioning of its first carrier will increase tensions in the region and could lead to a race to build up militaries among the nations concerned. The worries of these nations will increase all the more because China will not be content with possessing just one aircraft carrier but will likely build multiple aircraft carriers.