Once they are completed, China plans to deploy its first two domestically built aircraft carriers to the southern island province of Hainan in anticipation of potential conflict over the disputed South China Sea, the nationalistic tabloid Global Times writes.

Liu Huaqing, former commander and strategist of the PLA Navy, said as early as the 1980s that China needs four aicraft carriers before the year 2020 to control the seas between the Bonin islands, Guam and Indonesia that make up the Pacific Second Island Chain. The PLA commissioned its first carrier, Liaoning, in 2012. The vessel was refitted from the Varyag, a Soviet-era carrier purchased from Ukraine, and is believed to be the template for China’s first carriers built in the country from scratch.

A source from Beijing say China’s next carriers are likely to be deployed to the naval base at Sanya. Each is estimated to be designed to carry 30 J-15 fighters. One is being built in Dalian, where the Liaoning underwent its refit, and the other in Shanghai. The carrier under construction in Dalian will have an electromagnetic aircraft launch system similar to the USS Ronald Reagan, according to the source. The Liaoning has a ski-jump ramp. The source said the appearance of the new vessel will be revealed before the end of this year.

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