China passed its original aircraft carrier into the open Pacific for the first time in December. Last week the country floated its second aircraft carrier off a dry dock in the northern port city Dalian, DefenseNews among others reports. Taiwan doesn’t have an aircraft carrier and China claims sovereignty over self-ruled Taiwan. A new Chinese aircraft carrier designed for the open ocean (the islets are 330 kilometers from China’s shore) would be able to get more planes out there or even keep them parked nearby. When President Donald Trump comes out with a clear South China Sea policy, it will need to account for any Chinese aircraft carrier dedicated to the region.

Source: Forbes May 01, 2017 22:00 UTC