Heeding defense needs, China’s aircraft carrier ambitions appear to move closer to reality

Since China deployed the Liaoning, an aircraft carrier purchased from Ukraine and later refurbished and relaunched by the Chinese navy as a training carrier, speculation has swirled around the construction of a homegrown aircraft carrier.

Although Chinese authorities have never openly confirmed whether a homemade carrier is underway, they have also never denied it.

China's military officials have given some clues, however. Ministry of National Defence spokesman Yang Yujun said last August that although the Liaoning is China's first aircraft carrier, "there will surely be more in future." He said that China will consider the development of aircraft carriers in accordance with its national defense needs, leading many to wonder how many carriers China is planning to build.

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