China has launched its first aircraft carrier on a maiden voyage, in a move that may prompt anxiety among its neighbours about its naval ambitions.
The country has a long-term plan to build a carrier force of four vessels to boost its power on the Asian region's seas which are riddled with territorial disputes.
Military expert Yin Zhuo said its symbolic significance outweighed its practical importance.
The ship's launch did not automatically mean it would be an effective war machine, he said.