Taiwan Central News Agency, "Detection of Trends in China's Nuclear-Powered Aircraft Carrier Development"

The Shandong, China's first independently built aircraft carrier commissioned in December last year [Image source=AP Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Hyun-woo] Taiwanese media reported that China is developing a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier. If China acquires nuclear-powered carrier technology and builds one within a few years, its naval power will be greatly enhanced, raising military tensions among East Asian neighboring countries.

On the 25th, Taiwan's Central News Agency reported that a bidding announcement for the development of a nuclear-powered ship system evaluation model recently appeared on the "All-Army Weapon Equipment Procurement Information Network," operated by the Equipment Development Department of China's Central Military Commission, which is being interpreted as a sign that nuclear-powered aircraft carrier development is underway. China currently possesses two aircraft carriers: the Liaoning, the first carrier converted from a former Soviet model, and the independently built Shandong, but both are operated by diesel engines, and it is known that China has not yet secured nuclear-powered aircraft carrier construction technology.

China's third aircraft carrier is reportedly under construction at the Jiangnan Shipyard in Shanghai, but it is not yet known whether this carrier will be equipped with a nuclear propulsion engine. China already possesses 10 nuclear submarines, but it has not yet developed reactor technology for large vessels such as aircraft carriers. Because of this, its combat capability is considered significantly inferior to that of the U.S. Navy's main nuclear-powered Nimitz-class carriers.

Taiwan's Central News Agency stated that although China continues to pursue nuclear-powered aircraft carrier construction, cost issues and other constraints that cannot be resolved in the short term have kept the nuclear-powered carrier construction plan on hold. However, if China actually secures nuclear-powered aircraft carrier technology and proceeds with construction, its carrier strike group operational capability and naval power will be greatly enhanced, raising military tensions significantly in the South China Sea region and among East Asian neighboring countries.

Nuclear-powered aircraft carriers can operate for more than 20 years without refueling once nuclear fuel is loaded, enabling long-term operations of over six months in emergencies, and can operate electromagnetic catapults that consume large amounts of energy instantaneously. In contrast, China's diesel-powered carriers require refueling whenever fuel runs low, and their catapult operation is limited.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.