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The People’s Liberation Army’s third aircraft carrier is likely to become combat-ready within the next six to eight years, giving its forces more options in case of armed conflict with Taiwan, a Chinese analyst said.
Wang Hongliang, associate researcher at the Shanghai Jiao Tong University’s National Strategic Research Centre, said it would take the Fujian three to four years to enter active service. The launch of the PLA Navy’s third and most advanced aircraft carrier on June 17 was seen as bringing Beijing a step closer to its goal of building a “blue water navy”, capable of operating far from the shores of mainland China.
