China Has Big Goals For Their Aircraft Carriers

Aircraft Carrier Liaoning (16) at Hong Kong Waters. Wikimedia

Michael Peck, National Interest: China's Mini Aircraft Carriers Mean Business

And that Beijing won't always follow America's plans for military dominance.

Key point: Military capabilities are about more than size.

Is China’s newest aircraft carrier half-full or half-empty?

That depends on how you look at the vessel’s aircraft capacity.

The ship, prosaically named the Type 001A for now, is China’s second carrier and the first built in China. The first carrier, the Liaoning, is a refurbished ex-Soviet vessel.

The Liaoning could carry twenty-four J-15 fighters. The Type 001A can carry thirty-six J-15s plus various support aircraft and helicopters, according to Chinese media.

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WNU Editor: It looks like the Chinese are serious about building even more aircraft carriers .... Exclusive: Satellite images reveal China's aircraft carrier 'factory,' analysts say (Reuters).