China, a major power with the world's numerically largest navy, could adopt a nuclear-powered design for its next aircraft carrier as the military giant extends its reach in the Pacific, analysts say.

Why It Matters

The Pentagon believes China operates over 370 naval ships and submarines , including three aircraft carriers. The third and most advanced, the CNS Fujian , was officially put into service in early November at a ceremony attended by President Xi Jinping, whose aim is to build a "world-class" military.

Unlike the United States, which operates the world's largest aircraft carrier fleet with 11 vessels, all Chinese aircraft carriers are conventionally powered rather than nuclear-powered, limiting their range, endurance and mobility compared with their American counterparts

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