China, whose rising defence spending has worried the United States and elsewhere, has the capacity to build aircraft carriers and should do so soon, the official China Daily on Friday quoted military officials as saying.

Chinese military officials have been lobbying the central government for years to build an aircraft carrier, which would allow naval forces to project air power offshore, but rarely make public statements about their intentions.

"Building aircraft carriers is a symbol of an important nation. It is very necessary," Admiral Hu Yanlin was quoted saying in an article headlined by the unattributed quote "Build aircraft carriers soon".

Hong Kong media have said it could build a first carrier by 2010 and Hu said the rising power was ready.

"China has the capability to build aircraft carriers and should do so," he added.

China's rising military spending has prompted concern in the United States and elsewhere, especially in Japan and self-ruled Taiwan, which China claims as its own and has vowed to bring under mainland rule, by force if necessary.

China said on Wednesday its official military budget for 2009 would rise 14.9 percent on last year, defending the boost as a modest and unthreatening move to improve equipment and to protect social stability.

China has been cautiously extending its military experience beyond its borders by contributing to peacekeeping forces, participating in joint exercises, and most recently sending naval ships to patrol pirate-menaced seas off the Somali coast. And some of the extra spending may go to naval modernisation.