Summary
Satellite images show that two Chinese aircraft carriers have returned to their home port in Sanya, Hainan, after leaving due to a typhoon. The South China Sea, where these ships are based, is a highly disputed area with significant global and regional importance.
Key Facts
- Two Chinese aircraft carriers, CNS Shandong and CNS Fujian, are back at their port in Sanya, Hainan.
- They had left the port on October 3 to avoid Typhoon Matmo.
- The South China Sea is important for global trade and has overlapping territorial claims by nearby countries.
- China considers its dominance in the South China Sea critical for military power in the Indo-Pacific.
- The Yulin naval complex is a key facility for China's military operations in this region.
- The CNS Fujian, not yet officially part of the navy, is the largest and most advanced Chinese aircraft carrier.
- It features an electromagnetic catapult system for launching aircraft, a major technological advancement.
- China's fourth aircraft carrier, Type 004, is under construction and is expected to be nuclear-powered.
