China commissioned its first domestically built aircraft carrier into service on December 17 at a key base on the shores of the disputed South China Sea, in another big step in the country’s ambitious military modernisation.

The ship named Shandong was launched by President Xi Jinping at a naval base in Sanya in the southern island province of Hainan, a major facility on the coast of the South China Sea, where China has constructed man-made islands.

China currently has one aircraft carrier Liaoning, a refit of the Soviet-era ship that was commissioned in 2012. It is largely used for training, especially to test the fighter jet J-15, which has been specifically developed to operate from the decks of the aircraft carriers.

Why is the launch of Shandong significant?

In a major rejig of its military doctrine, China since 2013 stepped up the development of the Navy with a massive budget. It included building several aircraft carriers, submarines, frigates and assault ships as part of its efforts to expand its global influence.

Shandong’s commissioning marked China’s entry into an age of double carriers, an achievement only a few countries in the world have accomplished and will enrich the navy’s tactical and strategic choices in time, space and sheer power, a report quoted Chinese experts as saying.

The conventional-powered Shandong is equipped with more advanced electronic devices and control and command system, and built with an optimised superstructure and internal layout, after gaining actual-use experiences following Liaoning’s commissioning, the analysts said.

Shandong would be deployed in the South China Sea, a state-run newspaper reported. According to Chinese naval officials Shandong’s presence in the South China Sea could be a deterrent for repeated forays by US naval ships to assert freedom of navigation in the area.

Official media reports said Shandong with displacement of around 40,000-60,000 tonnes is bigger than Liaoning and could house 36 fighter jets compared to 24 by Liaoning, besides helicopters.

The second aircraft carrier based in the south can effectively patrol the South China Sea, protect islands and reefs there and act as a strategic foothold at sea, said Beijing-based military analyst Wei Dongxu.

While the Liaoning could go from the East China Sea to the Pacific Ocean and train more pilots and officers, Shandong could sail from the South China Sea into the Pacific Ocean and even go to the Indian Ocean, Wei said.

One carrier could also stay near the mainland for alert missions, while the other could sail farther away into high seas for long-range missions, analysts said.

Together with escorting guided missile destroyers as well as submarines and supplemental ships, the aircraft carriers could provide formidable power that China did not have in the past.

Even while Shandong was undergoing sea trials, reports said China is feverishly building a third carrier which is projected to be even bigger with displacement of 80,000 tonnes.

Why is the move relevant for India?

China plans to acquire about five to six aircraft carriers in the coming years, according to reports. The fast-paced construction of aircraft carriers by China has strategic significance for India too.

Though the Indian Navy has been operating aircraft carriers for decades, it currently has one aircraft carrier, INS Vikramaditya, in operation. The second carrier, INS Vikrant is under construction in Kochi and expected to enter service in 2022.

As it built more aircraft carriers, China, which already has a base at Djibouti in the Indian Ocean, is stepping up its presence in India’s backyard. China has also acquired the Hambantota port in Sri Lanka on as a debt swap for 99 years.

As it builds a number of aircraft carriers at a feverish pace, China has stepped up programme to train pilots for the newly developed carrier fighter jet J-15 as well as to command warships.

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