The Chinese navy on Wednesday launched its new aircraft carrier as Beijing continues to grow and modernize its maritime forces.
The ship, which currently does not have a name, is China’s first domestically built and second overall carrier, the BBC reported. It is not expected to be operational until 2020 and will carry China’s Shenyang J-15 fighter jets.
The ship’s construction “shows our country’s indigenous aircraft carrier design and construction has achieved major step-by-step results,” the official Xinhua news agency said.
Wednesday’s launch comes as China continues to assert its claims over virtually all of the South China Sea and tensions between the United States and North Korea, a Chinese ally, continue to rise. It is also the latest sign that China is working to expand its military presence and capabilities.
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