When one scrolls through a multitude of websites (afcea.org/globalsecurity.org/sinodefence.org etc) there is one recurring theme most of the time: the PRC has a habit of obtaining hulks of foreign aircraft carriers to gain knowledge in how to build them: at afcea-org
In 1996, China negotiated with France to buy the 32,000-ton Clemenceau when it was to be replaced by a new carrier.
. The way in which Invincible might be acquired for these purposes is the same way in which Varyag was bought: at global security-org
Ukraine halted construction on the ex-Varyag in 1992, when it was about 70 percent complete but without many electrical systems, no engines and no weapons. Left exposed to the elements, it quickly began to deteriorate. In 1992 China was reported to have opened discussions with Ukraine to purchase of the Varyag, a 67,500-ton Kuznetsov-class attack aircraft carrier about two-thirds complete and docked at the Black Sea shipyard of Nikolayev. In mid-1992 China's Science Academy sent 15 naval specialists to Ukraine for two months to conduct a feasibility study on the matter. After hearing their report, the Central Military Commission decided to go ahead with the plan and buy a carrier, aircraft and electronic equipment by 1994. These negotiations were ultimately fruitless, after Japan and the United States put pressure on Ukraine to pull out of the deal.
In early 1998 a Macau-based company, Chin Lot Tourist and Amusement Agency bought the Varyag for $20 million dollars, with the announced intent of turning it into a floating amusement park and gambling casino in Macau. The contract with Ukraine stipulated that the buyer could not use the carrier for military purposes, and that any equipment that could be used to build other warships would be removed from the craft. In 1999 a respected Hong Kong periodical reported that British and French companies had made Beijing an offer to equip the Varyag with many of the systems needed to make it operational.
Chong Lot was a subsidary a Hong Kong firm called Chinluck (Holding). Chong Lot was also connected to another Hong Kong company, Goldspot Investments Ltd. All three firms had connections with former People's Liberation Army officials. Directors of Chinluck were reported to have ties to the Chinese Navy, though Chinluck denied any People's Liberation Army involvement in the sale of the Varyag. Three of the five directors of Chinluck Holding, the parent company of Chong Lot, were Chinese nationals from Shandong, which happens to be the home of the Chinese Navy's North sea fleet. Chinluck (Holding) Co. Ltd. did not have any public presence, and Chong Lot carried a non-existent address in Macau
. Kiev and Minsk are carriers of an other class than Varyag which were in my opinion discarded after having been objects of study before being berthed as state run theme parks. Varyag itself is described as a template of study for future construction. Maybe one day it will turn up as another theme park! Furthermore the Chinese seem to be fond of ski jump equipped carriers. I would guess this to be another indirect approach towards diversification in the steps taken to gain sufficient knowledge in order to construct operational carriers by the PRC itself.
/reeve.gif)
/emirates.gif)