VIDEO: Rare Look Inside Chinese Military Base, First Air Carrier Launched for Sea Trials

China’s long-standing refurbish project for their first aircraft carrier, Varyag, which was purchased in 2001 from Ukraine, has finally been sent out to sea for testing.

The carrier sailed out of Dalian, a northeastern port, on Wednesday morning as reported by the state-run news agency Xinhua.  The 67,000-ton and 300-meter long ship has been in limbo for nearly a decade while refurbishing projects were taking place on the carrier.  Xinhua added that sources from the military said the trials will be brief, and that the Varyag will return to Dalian for further work. 

China has vehemently claimed that the only purposes of the aircraft carrier are for training and research purposes, and that it is officially assigned for non-aggressive activities within the military.

In recent years, China has been beefing up their military power, with developing a blue-water Navy, as well as air power as they debut F-16-rivaling fighter jets. 

View the video below for a rare look inside a Chinese military base.

To read more about the controversial military developments in China, click here.