China's navy has reached a whole new milestone with the Liaoning, the country's first ever aircraft carrier which is now fit for combat.

Captained by the political commissar Li Dongyou, the Liaoning officially set off from its yard in Qingdao, East China and began a new training mission.

Like Us on Facebook

During a Monday briefing to the Global Times, Captain Li explained that China's military is at its best, but they were working to better themselves if the need to go to war arises.

"At this moment, we are doing our best to promote strength and use it to prevent war," said Captain Li.

He added that although the US is still superior to China in combat technology and capability, US officials who had visited the aircraft carrier gave positive reviews.

"Senior US officials who visited the Liaoning before all gave a positive evaluation of the management of the carrier," he said. "Officers and soldiers' daily lives and training are well organized and the equipment maintenance is fine."

The 24th Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel, the 30th and 31st Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Jonathan W. Greenert, and Admiral John M. Richardson respectively are the three US officials who reviewed the Liaoning.

Captain Li revealed that the Liaoning had over a thousand committed officers who were on guard and at work on the aircraft carrier.

"Among them, we have 42 Chief Petty Officers with an average age of 40, with over 20 years experience of serving in the navy," he said. "As China's first generation of Non-Commissioned Officers' on the carrier, these officers' capability on how to operate, repair and maintain equipment is irreplaceable."

The Liaoning was purchased from the Ukraine years ago while it was still being constructed. It began operations in 2013 under the People's Liberation Army (PLA) Naval Surface Force.

The Liaoning has been fully loaded with Navy machine, according to the PLA.

Tagschina, Liaoning Aircraft Carrier, People's Liberation Army Navy