Is China building a new, unusual aircraft carrier?

China appears to be building a new and unusual aircraft carrier, sparking curiosity among experts, according to CNN.

Recent satellite imagery from the US company Planet Labs shows a ship with a large flat flight deck under construction at the Guangzhou International Shipyard in Guangdong province, China, according to CNN today, November 2nd.

Satellite imagery of the Guangzhou International Shipyard, taken on October 23, reveals several things, including a new class of Chinese ships with large flight decks.

Photo: Screenshot from The War Zone

The existence of this new vessel was first reported by The War Zone . Based on satellite imagery collected by The War Zone from Planet Labs, the new vessel is approximately 200 meters long and about 131 meters wide at its widest point.

The new ship has characteristics consistent with a light aircraft carrier or a large-deck amphibious assault ship, but there are some indications that it may be the first civilian oceanographic research vessel of that type, according to The War Zone .

This potential new aircraft carrier "has a somewhat unusual shape and size – much smaller than previous Chinese aircraft carriers," said Thomas Shugart, a former U.S. Navy submarine commander and now a member of the Center for New American Security, according to CNN.

This new ship is even smaller than the Type 075 amphibious assault ships currently in use by the Chinese navy, suggesting that China may be building the world's first "civilian aircraft carrier" "as some kind of oceanographic research vessel," according to Shugart.

There is currently no information on China's reaction to such a statement, given that China has been producing an increasing number of advanced warships at a rapid pace.

Why are three Chinese aircraft carriers increasing their activity?

The Fujian aircraft carrier, China's largest, most modern, and most powerful aircraft carrier to date, set sail for its first sea trials earlier this year. Experts believe the Fujian aircraft carrier could join the Chinese navy fleet by 2026.

The Fujian aircraft carrier, with a displacement of 80,000 tons, surpasses China's two currently operational aircraft carriers, the Shandong (66,000 tons) and the Liaoning (60,000 tons), placing it in the category of supercarriers. Only the US Navy operates aircraft carriers larger than the Fujian, according to CNN.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/trung-quoc-dang-dong-mot-tau-san-bay-moi-khac-thuong-18524110213481119.htm