[Global Issue+] A 'Game Changer' Approaches Taiwan Strait... China Also Unveils Concept of Nuclear Aircraft Carrier

[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

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Amid reports that China is currently constructing its fourth and fifth aircraft carriers simultaneously, there is growing global attention as one of these vessels may become a nuclear-powered carrier instead of the conventional diesel-powered type. Following the launch of China's third carrier, the Fujian, in June last year?which is currently undergoing testing and was unexpectedly revealed to be an older diesel-powered carrier?many countries are closely watching when China might acquire nuclear-powered carrier capabilities.

In particular, as China has recently conducted successive blockade drills in the Taiwan Strait to showcase its carrier power, concerns are rising that military tensions in the Taiwan Strait region could escalate further if China possesses nuclear-powered carriers. Older diesel-powered carriers face significant operational limitations because they cannot efficiently operate catapults required for launching carrier-based aircraft. However, if a nuclear-powered carrier strike group similar to that of the United States is established, China’s naval power is expected to increase substantially.

[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

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According to Taiwan’s Liberty Times on the 10th, the Shanghai Jiangnan Shipyard, a subsidiary of the state-owned China Shipbuilding Industry Corporation (CSIC), recently revealed a conceptual design of a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier with the hull number '20' on its public Weibo account, a social networking service. This vessel is believed to be either the fourth or fifth carrier currently under construction in China.

Looking at the hull numbers of China’s existing carriers, the first carrier Liaoning is numbered 16, the second carrier Shandong is 17, and the third carrier Fujian is 18. Considering this, the hull number '20' is presumed to be the fifth carrier. The Jiangnan Shipyard has reportedly initiated a public tender for nuclear propulsion systems for warships and plans to begin construction before 2025.

This next-generation Chinese aircraft carrier is estimated to be a nuclear-powered vessel exceeding 100,000 tons. China emphasizes that the carrier’s design surpasses previous technological limits, with a larger control tower and expanded space for military aircraft takeoff and landing compared to earlier models.

The new nuclear-powered carrier is also expected to carry China’s fifth-generation fighter jet J-35, J-15 fighters, the KJ-600 early warning aircraft, and the Z-20F anti-submarine helicopter developed based on the 10-ton medium helicopter Z-20.

[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

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With China expected to possess nuclear-powered carriers in the future, its maritime power is also anticipated to be significantly enhanced. Although the third carrier Fujian, previously expected to be nuclear-powered, was revealed to have an older diesel engine, limiting its operational capabilities, the introduction of nuclear-powered carriers will enable proper operation of catapults for launching carrier-based aircraft, thereby fully equipping China’s carrier strike capabilities.

Currently, China’s carrier strike group operates the Liaoning and Shandong carriers, which have older ski-jump style decks without catapults. Due to the lack of experienced carrier-based aircraft pilots, the Chinese Air Force has struggled to strengthen its power. The Fujian, now undergoing real-world testing, is the first to be equipped with catapults, but analysts suggest that its diesel engine power may not be sufficient for effective operation.

If China continues constructing carriers, it is expected to possess around ten carriers by the 2030s, roughly matching the United States in quantity. As China’s military provocations in the Taiwan Strait intensify, concerns are growing over the possibility of accidental clashes with the United States.

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