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Largest navy in the world -

China holds the largest navy force in the world in terms of numbers. As it continues to rapidly modernize, its ambitions to add nuclear-powered carriers offer a clear challenge to the United States.

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Nuclear-powered aircraft carrier -

Rumors of China’s plan to build a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier were recently confirmed by the Middlebury Institute of International Studies in California.

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Prototype -

Research shows that China has built a prototype of a nuclear reactor for a large surface warship. This move marks a clear advancement toward the country’s goal of producing its first nuclear-powered carrier.

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Plutonium or tritium -

The researchers from the Middlebury Institute of International Studies were initially looking into a reactor to produce either plutonium or tritium for weapons in a mountainous region just outside the southwest province of Sichuan.

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Base 909 -

Satellite images, personnel files, and other evidence revealed that China was actually building a prototype reactor for a big warship in a Nuclear Power Institute of China site known as Base 909.

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The 701 Institute -

Documentation shows that the institute responsible for aircraft carrier development, 701 Institute, also known as China Ship Research and Design Center, procured equipment to install a reactor on a significantly ample warship.

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Active assembly -

The institute concluded that approximately 112 km (70 mi) outside Chengdu a prototype reactor for naval propulsion was being assembled.

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Longer process -

Although the process to produce a nuclear carrier is much longer than its conventional counterpart, the benefits of their capabilities are extensive.

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US and France -

The only two countries to have nuclear-powered carriers are the United States and France. The United States alone has 11 carriers.

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Advanced systems -

Nuclear carriers are able to generate more power to run advanced systems, contain more space for weapons and fuel needed to run an aircraft, and can remain at sea for long periods of time, as they don’t need to consider refueling needs.

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Innovations -

Advanced systems include innovative radars, technologically-advanced weaponry, and electromagnetic launchers, among other cutting-edge innovations.

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Strategic steps -

This effort feeds into Chinese President Xi Jinping's ambitions to be able to strategically dominate maritime spaces, particularly those outside of Chinese territory.

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Nuclear ambitions -

While Chinese authorities have yet to confirm the conclusions published by researchers, it seems likely that this is the direction that China is heading, regardless if its efforts are already underway or still in the theoretical phase.

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Carnegie Endowment for International Peace -

The Carnegie Endowment for International Peace noted that: “Nuclear-powered carriers would place China in the exclusive ranks of first-class naval powers.”

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Base 909 -

Although researchers were unable to determine if the reactor is yet operational, Base 909 hosts six other reactors that are either operational or under construction.

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Satellite images -

Satellite images aggregated between 2020-2023 illustrate the construction of a water site, as well as the demolition of homes surrounding the area close to the prospective reactor construction site.

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Steam generators and turbine pumps -

Documents collected as part of the research include contracts for steam generators and turbine pumps. These elements are all in line with naval propulsion reactors.

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Oslo Nuclear Project -

Researchers at the Oslo Nuclear Project reviewed the research report, determining that the argument made by the Middlebury researchers is persuasive.

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Open Nuclear Network -

While there is still a great deal of uncertainty pertaining to the details of the project’s operations, the Open Nuclear Network echoes that the researchers’ findings are both “thorough” and “compelling.”

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Fleet -

China currently holds three carriers: the Liaoning, Shandong, and the Type 003 Fujian. All three carriers are conventionally powered. The first two carriers consist of Soviet design, one of which is a repurposed Soviet ship. They both use what’s called a ski-jump method to launch aircraft.

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Fujian -

The Fujian, on the other hand, was designed and built in China, the first of its kind. Similar to what the United States Navy uses on its conventional ship, the launch system is electromagnetic-esque.

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Fourth carrier -

Before China even began testing the Fujian, the country already confirmed their production of a fourth carrier, but without confirmation if the entity would be nuclear powered.

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Institute for Strategic Studies -

The Institute for Strategic Studies notes that “larger carriers more akin to [China’s] US counterparts will give them more options to project power.”

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First Island Chain -

Analysts believe that the most strategic locations that China will first seek to operate these carriers is where disputed territories lie, perhaps those of their allies as well, along the First Island Chain.

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Taiwan -

The First Island Chain includes Taiwan. While Taiwan considers itself an autonomous, independent nation, China considers Taiwan its territory and has consistently promised to retrieve it.

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Taiwan-US relations -

Taiwan has the backing of the United States in terms of security, weaponry, and agreements to provide assistance in the case of reoccupation.

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Tensions between US and China -

The tensions between the United States and China are on full display as the Chinese government continues surpassing innovation in almost every sector, leaving the United States nervously attempting to catch up.

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Belt and Road Initiative -

China’s Belt and Road Initiative, which focuses on international partnerships for infrastructural development, also poses a threat to American geopolitical interests, as nearly every country has entered some sort of agreement to collaborate with China along these lines.

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Rapid modernization -

Although China’s military capacity is still not nearly as developed as America’s, its rapid modernization, increasing demands, and exploratory air operations set the tone for what may lie ahead between the nations.

Sources: (AP News) (CNN) (Business Insider)

See also: Decoding the G20—Why it shapes the global agenda

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