China may soon announce the construction of a fourth aircraft carrier, a senior naval officer said on Tuesday.
The Chinese Navy's political commissar, Admiral Yuan Huazhi, spoke in a video interview posted by the Chinese state-owned newspaper the Hong Kong Commercial Daily on the social media platform Weibo.
"China's aircraft carrier is not just built to compete with the United States, but to protect the country's sovereignty and territorial integrity and protect the country's rights and interests," Yuan said, during the interview with the newspaper.
The admiral's comments, delivered on the sidelines of the National People's Congress (NPC), are noteworthy as they constitute the first official confirmation of the fourth aircraft carrier's construction.
Representatives of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) make rare public appearances during the annual legislative meetings in Beijing. The update sheds light on China's typically opaque warship development program, revealing what appears to be smooth technical progress on the new vessel.
China's ambitious naval buildup is part of President Xi Jinping's broader strategy to transform the PLA's navy into a formidable "blue-water" force capable of projecting power far beyond its immediate coastal waters. Achieving this goal necessitates a rapid advancement in aircraft carrier technologies to narrow the gap with the U.S. Navy, which is considered the strongest maritime force.
While speculative illustrations and discussions about the warship have circulated online for some time, believed to originate from the Jiangnan shipyard in Shanghai, these comments provide a tangible acknowledgment of the carrier's existence and progress, the South China Morning Post reported on Wednesday.
Speculation about the new aircraft carrier potentially being nuclear-powered has been a topic of considerable interest. Nuclear propulsion would enable the carrier to support catapult-launch take-offs, offering extended range and enhanced speed capabilities.
However, PLA sources have previously indicated there are limitations in China's naval nuclear reactor technology, suggesting challenges in adopting nuclear propulsion, the SCMP reported.
China's third aircraft carrier, the Fujian, is being prepared for sea trial.
A recent CCTV broadcast showcased Fujian's electromagnetic catapult-assisted take-off, but arrested recovery (CATOBAR) system, which could revolutionize the PLA navy's ability to launch and recover a wider array of heavier fixed-wing aircraft more efficiently.
This system was visually confirmed through rare footage, alongside glimpses of carrier-based aircraft, hinting at the potential deployment of the advanced J-35 fighter jet.
Although the Fujian matches the size of the U.S. Navy's supercarriers, it lacks some of the advanced capabilities, including nuclear propulsion, that the U.S. has refined over decades.
Nevertheless, the PLA's ongoing efforts and the potential of the new CATOBAR system underscore China's commitment to closing the technological and operational gaps with leading naval powers, including the U.S.
Uncommon Knowledge
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About the writer
Aadil Brar is a reporter for Newsweek based in Taipei, Taiwan. He covers international security, U.S.-China relations, and East Asian ... Read more
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