Summary: China's first aircraft carrier steamed out of Dalian harbor for a sea trial Wednesday, providing a burst of national pride for China's people but a source of concern for many of its neighbors. The short voyage by the refitted Ukrainian carrier ends weeks of speculation about the date of the vessel's initial sea trial. A defense Ministry statement said the carrier, formerly known as the Varyag, would soon return to harbor for continued refit and test work. Chinese officials have downplayed the significance of the carrier, saying it will be used for scientific research, experiments and training. But the ship has become a symbol of China's rising military power at a time of tension with several of its neighbors over competing maritime claims in the East and South China seas. But China’s move could be provoked by necessity as much as anything else. Late Friday, the rating agency Standard & Poor’s took the historic decision of downgrading the US debt from AAA – a rating unchanged since 1941 – to a slightly tarnished ranking of AA+ with negative outlook. While being a major lender to the US certainly gives China a strong voice, its investments are on the line. If the unthinkable were to happen and the US were to default on its debt, that would mean significant amounts of Chinese capital going up in smoke..Tonight on Conservative Primetime "Cool"Mike and Germaine along with our guest will discuss how the United States should deal with China in the future.
