According to the latest report by Taiwan's Ministry of Defense on the capabilities of the People's Liberation Army (PLA), China would have put in production two other carriers of the same size as the only platform currently in service, Liaoning. Although the entire project is covered by military secrecy, some indiscretions from the Chinese media would support the veracity of these statements.
China bought the aircraft carrier from 60.000 tons of the Soviet era from Ukraine in the 1998. Liaoning which, over the years, has been totally revised and modernized even though it is not yet considered fully operational (target within the 2020), although it has participated in numerous military exercises, including the latest in the South China Sea.
According to Reuters, the two new carriers would be under construction in Shanghai and in the north-eastern city of Dalian. The report does not assume any date for the completion of the two aircraft carriers. Taiwanese intelligence agencies constantly monitor Chinese military developments. In fact, Beijing has never renounced the use of force to claim the rights on that "renegade province". Also according to the Taiwan report, the Chinese would be able to deploy in the island's only conquest, at least 400 thousand men. The Taiwan Ministry of Defense report also highlights the number of Chinese ground forces - one million and 200 thousand men - that would be ready for combat.
The tension between the two countries seems to have eased with the leadership of Taiwanese president Ma Ying-jeou. China, however, continues to fear the use of force to resume Taiwan, should the island declare its independence.
(in the photo the Liaoning, first Chinese aircraft carrier, in port last year)
