CNN: China Appears to Build Full-Scale Mock-Up of U.S. Warship

RUSH EXCERPT:

RIPLRY: “At first, it looks like any American warship at sea. Then you notice the sand. More than a thousand miles from the nearest coastline, hundreds of miles from any major city deep inside the western Chinese desert. What appears to be a full scale mock up of a U.S. Navy arleigh burke class destroyer. Look at it side by side with the uss fitzgerald. The resemblance is striking. Both are around 510ft long at the back, the helicopter flight deck used to launch and recover naval helicopters. Next are the vertical launch system cells used to fire guided munitions like the tomahawk cruise missile, heavily used in the conflict with Iran. This is the bridge and command area where navigation, communications and combat operations are controlled. At the front is the deck gun used for surface targets, air threats and shore bombardment.”