China Sets Sail for Nuclear-Powered Naval Dominance

China is advancing towards building its first nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, signified by the construction of a land-based prototype nuclear reactor for a large surface warship. This development aims to boost China's naval power and elevate its status in global maritime affairs, challenging the US.

China is on the verge of a significant military advancement with the construction of a prototype nuclear reactor intended for a large surface warship. This effort is fuelling speculations about the country's ambitions to produce its first nuclear-powered aircraft carrier.

The revelations emerged from satellite imagery and Chinese government documents analyzed by researchers at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies. The reactor, located at a mountain site near Leshan in Sichuan, is part of China's broader plan to modernize its navy, already the largest globally by number.

Such an advancement would position China among the elite ranks of naval powers, joining the United States and France, and symbolizing a push for greater national prestige and global influence. While details remain scarce, the project's development signals China's intent to extend its naval reach far beyond its shores.

(With inputs from agencies.)