China on Wednesday launched its first aircraft carrier built entirely on its own, in a demonstration of the growing technical sophistication of its defense industries and determination to safeguard its maritime territorial claims and crucial trade routes. Also attending was navy commander Vice Adm. Shen Jinlong, a former commander of the South Sea Fleet responsible for defending China's claim to virtually the entire South China Sea. That compares with 85 to 90 fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters carried by a Nimitz-class carrier. That compares with 275 deployable battle force ships presently in the U.S. Navy, China's primary rival in the Pacific. The U.S. operates 10 aircraft carriers, has 62 destroyers to China's 32, and 75 submarines to China's 68.

Source: Los Angeles Times April 26, 2017 14:40 UTC