China Denies Sending Aircraft Carrier to Syria to Join Russian Forces

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said that Beijing does not have plans to an aircraft carrier to Syria to help Russian forces in the fight against the Islamic State (ISIL).

BEIJING (Sputnik) — Beijing has no intentions to send an aircraft carrier to Syria to help Russian forces in the fight against the Islamic State (ISIL) jihadist group, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said on Wednesday, denying media reports.

Beginning on September 30, when Russian Aerospace Forces commenced pinpoint airstrikes against ISIL positions in Syria at President Bashar Assad's request, reports have appeared in the media claiming that Beijing was preparing to join Moscow to fight ISIL, by way of sending its sole aircraft carrier, the Liaoning, to the site.

"We have noticed that a lot of rumors and reports have appeared about China's involvement in Syria. As far as I know, there are no such plans. For instance, the Liaoning aircraft carrier is still being used for scientific purposes," she said during a daily news briefing.

Several Chinese media have refuted claims concerning Liaoning's involvement in military operations in the war-torn country.

Liaoning is generally classified as a training ship, intended to allow the Navy to practice with carrier usage.