China's production of its second aircraft carrier is taking shape, UPI reported, showing photos of the vessel's ongoing construction in the port city of Dalian.

The vessel, likely to be named after a Chinese port city "Shangdong," will be the first indigenous carrier from China. Although local media reported that the vessel is slated to be finished on the first half of this year, no official timeline from the government has been released yet.

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China confirmed last December that it will make its second carrier and at the same time showed off the capabilities of its only operational carrier, the Liaoning. While the first aircraft carrier will be used for training missions, the second one is for patrolling of the disputed territorial waters of the South China Sea. "It will be used to tackle the complicated situations in the South China Sea," South China Morning Post wrote.

According to Business Insider, the Chinese carriers display a ski-slope design. Such design inhibits the carrier from launching heavy bomb-and-fuel-laden planes, thus their efficacy and range are very limited. However, Taylor Mavin, a graduate student in international affairs from US San Diego, noted that these soviet-designed carriers are ideal for coastal defense and not seaborne power projection.

Even though the second carrier is still on its progress, China announced that it is already planning to build its third aircraft carrier in the future. "The Chinese Navy is expected to own a third aircraft carrier strike group, capable of safeguarding territorial sovereignty and maritime rights," military expert Liang Fang said.

TagsAircraft carrier, Liaoning, South China Sea, Chinese Aircraft Carrier, Shangdong aircraft carrier