China finishes hull of first domestically built aircraft carrier

China has completed assembly of its first domestically made aircraft carrier and design work on the vessel was finished, the defence ministry said on Thursday.

Ministry spokesman Wu Qian said workers were also installing equipment on the carrier, without giving further details.

China confirmed earlier this year that it was building the carrier, its second after the People’s Liberation Army commissioned the Liaoning – a renovated former Soviet vessel – four years ago. The new vessel is widely seen as part of China’s push to expand its naval capacity amid rising challenges over the disputed East and South China seas, and to protect its growing overseas interests.

Beijing has been tight-lipped about the carrier’s construction, though military observers said they expected the design of the new vessel to closely follow that of the Liaoning. When asked in August whether the construction was almost finished, Wu only said that it was going smoothly.

Also on Thursday, Wu criticised an article by US Defence Secretary Ash Carter as “full of pride and prejudice against China”.