Russian Naval Academy graduate to head China's first carrier

05.08.2011 Having analyzed posts in blogs, English-speaking Hong Kong newspaper The South China Morning Post assumed that Gen. Maj. Li Xiaoyan could become commanding officer of the China's first aircraft carrier Shi Lang which is upgraded and retrofitted Soviet carrier Varyag.

The 50-year old general was born in 1961 in Jilin province. In 1979 he entered preparatory course of Air Force Flight School. In 1987 he and other 9 pilots enrolled in 3.5-year long naval ship commanders' course. In 1991 he was posted as EO to destroyer Nanning for probation period, and then he was assigned as EO to destroyer Nanchang. In 1995 he headed frigate Jiangmen. Occupying that post, in 1999 he took master's degree in the Kuznetsov Naval Academy in Russia. One year later, Li was appointed commanding officer of destroyer Shenzhen and performed numerous diplomatic visits to foreign ports in the Pacific, the Indian, and the Atlantic oceans.

Li helped to promote prestige of Chinese Navy during visits abroad, and this fact increases his credibility, says President of Macau International Military Association Antony Wong Dong. As for him, General Li is the best candidate for the post of the carrier commander, since he has great warship service experience. His record in the South China Sea could be also good advantage as it is believed that the first Chinese aircraft carrier would be stationed in those disputable waters.

As for Gen. Li himself, in 2002 he visited ex-Soviet carrier Minsk refitted into theme park in Shenzhen and reached a conclusion that Chinese Navy does need aircraft carriers.