Beijing’s second aircraft carrier ‘takes shape’ after two years, nine months of construction

Beijing’s second aircraft carrier was “taking shape” after two years and nine months of construction, mainland Chinese media reported – a move likely to further unnerve Taiwan and other neighbours about its growing military assertiveness.

Construction of the Shandong, named after a province in China’s east coast, began in 2014, the mobile app of Shandong television and radio said in a report seen on Tuesday.

The Shandong, mainland China’s first indigenous aircraft carrier, was “taking shape”, the report said. It did not give a date for completion or further details.

It was being built in the northeastern port of Dalian, the Defence Ministry has said.

The country’s first aircraft carrier, the Liaoning, was bought from Ukraine in 1998 and refitted on the mainland.