China Advances Towards First Nuclear-Powered Aircraft Carrier, Satellite Images Reveal

China’s Naval Ambitions and Military Modernization
Recent satellite images show China is progressing towards developing its first nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, a crucial step in its broader naval modernization plans. The images reveal that China has constructed a prototype nuclear reactor at Base 909, located near Leshan in southwestern China. This reactor is part of a broader effort by China to enhance its naval capabilities, which are already the largest in the world by ship numbers. With this move, China aims to bolster its ability to project power globally, challenging U.S. naval dominance.

Nuclear Carriers: A Symbol of Prestige and Power
Nuclear-powered aircraft carriers would place China alongside the United States and France as one of the few countries capable of deploying such advanced warships. This leap in naval technology would not only improve China’s operational range but also symbolize national prestige and reinforce domestic nationalism. With nuclear propulsion, China could extend its military reach and significantly enhance the operational capabilities of its aircraft carriers, positioning itself as a true global naval power.

Research and Development of Nuclear Propulsion for Warships
The reactor being developed at Base 909 aligns with the specifications of a naval propulsion system, a pressurized water reactor with a secondary circuit, similar to those used for nuclear-powered aircraft carriers. This reactor, which is expected to be operational soon, is a key component of China’s ambitions to field nuclear-powered carriers in the near future. The research and development efforts are part of a larger strategy to modernize the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) and improve its global naval presence.

Concerns Over China’s Growing Naval Power
While China’s navy is already the largest in terms of sheer numbers, it still lags behind the U.S. Navy in some areas, notably in its lack of nuclear-powered aircraft carriers. The U.S. Navy’s 11 nuclear carriers enable it to maintain a global presence and power projection capabilities. China’s rapid advancements in naval technology, including nuclear propulsion, have raised concerns in Washington about shifting military power dynamics in the Pacific. As China works to close the technological gap, it could reshape the balance of naval influence worldwide.