Commentary China’s force of aircraft carriers continues to grow. The People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) currently has two carriers, one an ex-Soviet vessel, the other a virtual clone of the first. But it is rapidly adding to its arsenal. A third carrier is already under construction at the Jiangnan shipyards in Shanghai. This 85,000-ton vessel, dubbed the Type-003, will be China’s first true flattop carrier, outfitted with an advanced electromagnetic launch catapult and capable of operating nearly twice as many fighter aircraft as the first two carriers. The Type-003 could enter service as early as 2023. In addition, China is already planning its first nuclear-powered supercarrier, the Type-004 CVN. It is speculated that the Type-004 could operate up to 100 fixed-wing and rotary aircraft. This ship could enter service by the end of the decade and will likely also serve as a model for additional CVNs. It is possible that …