China has taken huge steps forward in the past decade, acquiring and modifying an old Soviet carrier, and building a new ship to the same design.

In a bid to make proverbial waves in international waters, China has planed of having six aircraft carriers – four of them with nuclear capabilities – by 2035 in a bid to challenge US Navy.

China has maintained that the urgent pace of modernising its navy stems from the need to secure its trade routes and maintain peace in international waters.