Recently, the Chinese Communist Party’s aircraft carrier made a high-profile visit to Hong Kong, which was also heavily promoted by the Hong Kong government. At the same time, the dust settled on Trump’s “Big and Beautiful Act,” meaning that the US military budget was successfully increased by 150 billion dollars, with a portion allocated to shipbuilding and maritime bases. Analysts point out that while China has the largest number of warships globally and is considered the primary adversary of the United States, their aircraft carriers still fall short in comparison to American carriers in terms of capability and have significant vulnerabilities.
During the visit of the Chinese aircraft carrier Shandong from July 3rd to 7th, it sparked enthusiasm for “aircraft carriers”, “navy” and “national defense” in Hong Kong. The number of visitors on board the Shandong exceeded thirty thousand during the visit. Hong Kong is the only city in the world to have hosted visits from two Chinese aircraft carriers – the Liaoning in 2017 and the Shandong in 2025, both of which were open for public tours.
Before arriving in Hong Kong, the Shandong participated in military exercises near Taiwan, crossing the Bashi Channel on June 7th to meet up with the Chinese aircraft carrier Liaoning in the Second Island Chain area. This marked the first time that Chinese aircraft carriers were deployed together on a tour of the Western Pacific and crossed the Second Island Chain.
Meanwhile, on July 4th, President Trump signed the “Big and Beautiful Act,” authorizing an additional 150 billion dollars for the US military, with 29 billion dollars allocated to expanding the Navy fleet’s size and enhancing its combat capability, as well as constructing maritime industrial bases, improving infrastructure, and increasing capacity.
The United States currently operates 10 Nimitz-class nuclear-powered aircraft carriers and 1 Ford-class nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, totaling 11 carriers. According to the World Directory of Modern Military Warships released in late January, the US Navy’s comprehensive strength remains top in the world, largely due to its powerful and numerous fleet of nuclear-powered aircraft carriers.
In an interview with The Epoch Times, a researcher at the Taiwan Institute for National Defense Studies, Shen Mingshi, stated that China’s deployment of the Shandong aircraft carrier to Hong Kong is an attempt to showcase its military and defense capabilities.
However, he believes that the tactical nuclear submarines of the United States, equipped with heavy torpedoes and anti-ship missiles, could easily destroy these aircraft carriers. In essence, the Liaoning and Shandong aircraft carriers of China have only symbolic significance, indicating that China has become a navy capable of operating in open seas from the First Island Chain to the Second Island Chain.
After completing its exercises, the Shandong did not visit Hong Kong directly, but returned to Sanya, Hainan before making its way back to the city. Shen Mingshi explained that this move suggests the Shandong may have undergone maintenance or reconfiguration in Sanya to showcase a new appearance or conceal sensitive weapons before heading to Hong Kong.
On June 14th, Chinese state-run CCTV reported on the Chinese aircraft carriers, stating that “The farther it goes, the greater its capability,” and highlighting the use of an electromagnetic catapult on China’s third aircraft carrier, claiming it may be more advanced than the US technology.
Shen Mingshi pointed out that despite China’s confidence in its domestically built aircraft carriers, they still lag behind American counterparts in terms of capabilities.
The Shandong is China’s second aircraft carrier, with the hull number 17, measuring over 300 meters in length, and it is the first carrier built indigenously in China. Commissioned in 2019, the carrier group includes the aircraft carrier Shandong, missile destroyers Yan’an and Zhanjiang, and missile frigate Yuncheng.
China’s first aircraft carrier, the Liaoning, with the hull number 16, was purchased by China from Ukraine under the guise of a private businessman as an unfinished former Soviet aircraft carrier Varyag. The businessman claimed to build a floating hotel and casino, purchasing not only the Varyag but also its complete blueprints, laying the foundation for China’s indigenous aircraft carrier program. Thus, the Shandong is often called the domestic version of the Liaoning.
China’s third aircraft carrier, the Fujian, with the hull number 18, was launched on June 17, 2022, and is currently undergoing sea trials.
Shen Mingshi noted that the design of the Shandong is based on the Varyag, which is the precursor to the Liaoning, designed in the 1980s, signifying its inferior performance and quality compared to US carriers. Particularly, the number of aircraft carried is limited, with the Liaoning accommodating approximately 40 to 50 aircraft, which further decreases when including early warning aircraft, helicopters, or other planes.
Furthermore, Shen Mingshi highlighted that the ski-jump deck of the Shandong lacks catapult assistance, relying on the aircraft’s own power for takeoff. This limitation hinders its ability for full aircraft loadout, as the ski-jump design affects the aircraft’s weight distribution, risking failure to launch and possible accidents.
Both of China’s operational aircraft carriers and the third carrier undergoing trials utilize conventional propulsion systems. These conventional carriers have a limited operational range of about 7,000 to 8,000 nautical miles before requiring refueling from replenishment ships.
Dr. Zhong Zhi-dong, assistant researcher at the Taiwan Institute for National Defense Studies, explained that due to limitations of conventional propulsion systems, the Shandong cannot effectively conduct long-range operations.
He stated that the Shandong’s conventional propulsion allows for a range of approximately 7,000 to 8,000 nautical miles; however, when factoring in the need for refueling, the actual range is effectively halved, impacting operational capabilities significantly.
“China currently lacks military bases between the First and Second Island Chains for logistics support. Unlike the US, which has bases like Guam for direct naval support, China’s reliance on these sea supply lines becomes vulnerable when crossing the First Island Chain,” Dr. Zhong elaborated.
Shen Mingshi emphasized that replenishment ships are a “fatal weakness” for Chinese aircraft carriers, as the destruction of these ships by Taiwan, Japan, or the US would severely impede the carrier’s operations by disrupting logistics and ammunition supplies.
“The Liaoning previously ventured as far as the southern waters of Alaska. However, without overseas military bases, its supply chain becomes problematic. Thus, it is less likely for it to reach the central Pacific, and we haven’t seen the Shandong or Liaoning cross the Malacca Strait to the Indian Ocean, as the first priority is addressing their logistical challenges,” Shen Mingshi explained.
According to Chinese state media reports, the Fujian features a flat-flight deck, electromagnetic catapults, and arresting gear, with a displacement of over 80,000 tons.
Shen Mingshi analyzed that the third carrier Fujian boasting electromagnetic catapults faces challenges due to the added power requirements, as the conventional propulsion system may not generate enough power to fully support all ship operations and the electromagnetic launch system simultaneously. He speculated that China might utilize power modulation systems to adjust power usage during launch operations, affecting overall operational efficiency. Comparing the Shandong’s capabilities with current US carriers, Shen Mingshi estimated a technological gap of approximately 15 to 20 years. He suggested that China is unlikely to engage recklessly with its aircraft carriers.
Additionally, Shen Mingshi emphasized that the countermeasures implemented by the US, Taiwan, and Japan against China’s maritime expansion are sufficient to deter Chinese aircraft carriers.
“Deploying long-range anti-ship missiles on the southwestern islands of Japan or along Taiwan’s northern and eastern coasts, coupled with the defense capabilities of Taiwan’s F-16s, their XASM missiles, ship-based Xiong Feng missiles, and the US deployment of anti-ship missiles in the northern part of Luzon Island in the Philippines could effectively deter these aircraft carriers from coming too close to Japan, Taiwan, or the relevant islands of the Philippines,” Shen Mingshi pointed out.