China's First Aircraft Carrier Commissions

 China's first aircraft carrier officially entered service Tuesday, amid a worsening territorial dispute with Japan and regional concerns over Beijing's rapidly modernizing navy.

The Defense Ministry’s announcement had been long expected and was not directly linked to current tensions with Japan over a disputed group of uninhabited islands in the East China Sea.
The 300-meter ship, purchased from Ukraine in 1998, was delivered and commissioned to the People's Liberation Army (PLA) at a ceremony in the port city of Dalian, where the vessel was refitted.
“The aircraft carrier will play an important role in China's settlement of islands disputes and defense of its maritime rights and interests,” said Chinese naval expert, Li Jie, in an interview with Chinese newspaper, People’s Daily.   
The carrier can reportedly hold a compliment of 30 fixed-wing fighters compared to the much larger American Nimitz class carriers than can carry around 90 aircraft.
The commissioning of the ship is a huge display of national prestige, elevating China to the nine-nation club of carrier-equipped navies.