China's Aircraft Carrier Ambitions: Seeking Truth from Rumors

Abstract

For more than a decade there have been persistent reports that the People's Republic of China (PRC) intends to acquire an aircraft carrier force as part of its ambition to achieve "blue-water" (high seas) naval capability. Some reports suggest that China plans to refit one or more aircraft carriers from the former Soviet Union or other countries. Others claim that China has investigated the possibility of buying a light aircraft carrier from an European shipbuilder. Other reports suggest China has already made the decision to build two or three indigenous carriers and has even allocated funding for the program. However, none of these reports has ever been confirmed, and no firm evidence exists that China really does intend to refurbish, build, or buy an aircraft carrier. Thus the prospect of a Chinese carrier remains subject to a great deal of rumor and speculation.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jan 01, 2004
Accession Number
ADA421913

Entities

People

  • Ian Storey
  • You Ji

Organizations

  • Naval War College

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Air Platforms
  • Ground and Sea Platforms
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Air Force
  • Aircraft Carriers
  • Aircrafts
  • Doctrine
  • Engineers
  • Fixed Wing Aircraft
  • Governments
  • Guided Missiles
  • Helicopters
  • Hong Kong
  • International Relations
  • National Security
  • Navies (Foreign)
  • Ships
  • Short Takeoff Aircraft
  • Ussr
  • Warfare

Fields of Study

  • Business

Readers

  • Asian Economic Studies
  • Maritime and Naval Warfare Studies
  • Theoretical Analysis.