My comment: It is no secret; everybody knows. Maybe it is news only because
it comes from a former high ranking official. See
James Miles, The cautious leap forward; China prepares a new plan for
uncertain times. Economist. Nov. 13, 2009 (from The World in 2010
http://www.economist.com/displaystory.cfm?story_id=14742402
("2010 could be the year when China’s first aircraft carrier is unveiled")
There is no need to read the rest of this Economist article.