China's Base in Djibouti Can Accommodate Its Aircraft Carriers

 USNI News published on 20 April 2021 an article titled "AFRICOM: Chinese Naval Base in Africa Set to Support Aircraft Carriers" by Sam LaGrone.

U.S. AFRICOM Commander Stephen Townsend recently told the House Armed Services Committee that the People's Liberation Army Navy is expanding its naval installation at Djibouti so that it can accommodate PLAN aircraft carriers.  He added that China is seeking other basing opportunities in Africa.  

China Nearing Completion of Third Aircraft Carrier

 The Washington Post published on 16 September 2020 an article titled "China's Third Aircraft Carrier Takes Shape, with Ambitions to Challenge U.S. Naval Dominance" by Gerry Shih.

China is building at its Jiangnan shipyard its third aircraft carrier.  This is the first one equipped with modern technology and will likely be larger than the previous two that were based on outdated Soviet designs.  It is not clear whether the new carrier will have an electromagnetic catapult to efficiently sling fighter jets off its deck.  The new ship could go in the water by the end of this year to be fitted out.

International scholars estimate that China intends to build a fleet of at least six carriers.  The U.S. Navy has eleven nuclear-powered carriers in service and plans to introduce several more.  The new Chinese carrier will probably result in its appearance in the Indian Ocean region.  

China's Aircraft Carriers: Full Steam Ahead?

The Diplomat published on 7 February 2017 an article titled "China's Aircraft Carriers: Full Steam Ahead?" by Jeff M. Smith at the American Foreign Policy Council.

This is a good update of the progress China has made in developing an aircraft carrier capacity with the long-term goal of having a blue water navy.

Military Role for China's Maritime Silk Road

The National Interest published on 20 November 2016 a commentary titled "China's 'One Belt One Road' Is a Big Deal. So What Is the Role for Beijing's Military?" by Lyle J. Goldstein, U.S. Naval War College.

The author looks at the military role for China's Maritime Silk Road. He concludes that Washington should look favorably on the initiative and attempt to guide it in a constructive, inclusive, environmentally sensitive, and demilitarized direction.

China's First Aircraft Carrier Goes into Service

The Washington-based Center for Strategic and International Studies has just opened a new website called China Power. The first entry is a lengthy piece titled "How Does China's First Aircraft Carrier Stack Up?" It evaluates the capabilities and likely use of the Liaoning, which was originally built for the Soviet Navy but was extensively modernized and commissioned by the PLAN in 2012 as a training ship. It will be several years before it is fully integrated into the PLAN.

China Building Two Aircraft Carriers

Reuters published on 3 September 2015 an article titled "China Building Two Aircraft Carriers: Taiwan Defense Ministry Report" by J.R. Wu.  Taiwan's Defense Ministry says that one of the carriers is being built in Shanghai and the other in the northeastern city of Dalian.  There was no estimate for completion of construction. 

Globalsecurity.org published on 30 July 2015 a good summary titled "Aircraft Carrier Project Phase 2 - New Construction" of China's program to develop a carrier capacity.  This program underscores China's intention to develop a blue water navy and will certainly lead to more frequent PLAN sailings in the Indian Ocean and waters off Africa.