China is building a second aircraft carrier - but this time made entirely from domestic technology, its defense ministry has announced. The 50,000-ton vessel is being built in the port of Dalian. It will not be nuclear powered, the ministry says.
China is expanding its navy amid rising tension with its neighbors in the East and South China Seas, BBC reported.
China’s first aircraft carrier, the Liaoning, is a second-hand Soviet ship built more than 25 years ago. It was commissioned in 2012 after extensive refits. “This [latest] aircraft carrier is being developed according to entirely domestic designs,” defense ministry spokesman Yang Yujun told a news briefing.
“The design and construction of the second aircraft absorbed the useful experience of research and training from the Liaoning.
“This led to many areas of improvements and enhancements,” he said, without providing details.
Correspondents say that official confirmation of the construction work comes after months of rumors from military officials. It also comes as China steadily adds to its fleet of cutting-edge frigates, destroyers and nuclear submarines.
It will transport China’s J-15 aircraft along with other planes, Yang said. He would not say when the second carrier would enter service, saying much depended on progress in the design process.
