Editorial Board

China's Aircraft Carrier Is Nothing to Fear

China's planned "blue-water navy" sounds alarming but isn’t.

April 9, 2014 at 10:31 PM UTC

By The Editorial Board

The Editorial Board publishes the views of the editors across a range of national and global affairs.

Nice aircraft carrier you've got here, China. Feel free to build more! Source: ChinaFotoPress/ChinaFotoPress via Getty Images

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Chinese officials gave U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel a tour of an aircraft carrier this week. The Liaoning is their only such vessel -- but not for long. China plans to build three more by 2020 as part of its new "blue-water navy," a prospect that sounds alarming but isn't. The cause for concern lies elsewhere.

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