Since the debut of China’s first aircraft carrier, the “Liaoning,” in 2012, China has had three aircraft carriers, including the Shandong, launched at the end of 2019, and the Fujian, launched in May 2022. As for when China’s fourth aircraft carrier will debut, there have been speculations from external sources that technical bottlenecks may have delayed the announcement.
In response, during the two sessions, Navy Political Commissar Yuan Huazhi, in an interview with the Hong Kong Commercial Daily, stated that China’s ongoing aircraft carrier construction does not face technical bottlenecks. As for whether nuclear power will be adopted, he stated that it “will be announced soon.”
Navy Political Commissar Yuan Huazhi stated that there are no bottlenecks in aircraft carrier construction and that construction is currently proceeding in an orderly manner. With regard to the adoption of nuclear power, Yuan Huazhi expressed confidence that the information will be disclosed soon.
The debut of the future fourth aircraft carrier will continue to strengthen China’s maritime power and may challenge the combat capabilities of U.S. aircraft carriers. In this regard, Yuan Huazhi emphasized that China’s aircraft carrier construction is not to compete with the United States, but to protect the country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, safeguard national interests. “We have no relationship with the United States. We are not building for them. Our aircraft carriers are for defense.” China will also go to further places in the future.