Shanghai shipyard racing to hit Communist Party congress deadline for China’s latest aircraft carrier

Construction is restarting after more than a month of delays caused by China’s worst Covid-19 outbreak since the pandemic started

The PLA Navy hints third carrier may be ready in time for the year’s most important political event

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Workers return to Jiangnan shipyard in Shanghai for a stress test rehearsal before work resumes on China’s third aircraft carrier. Photo: Chongming District Government

Published: 2:00pm, 30 Apr 2022Updated: 1:18pm, 31 May 2022

Shanghai’s naval shipyard workers are under pressure to complete China’s third aircraft carrier, possibly in time for the autumn Communist Party national congress, the most important political event of the year.

Construction of the Type 003 carrier halted when the three companies owned by China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC) – the world’s largest shipping conglomerate – were forced to shut down in mid-March as part of the city’s Covid-19 lockdowns.

Before the Shanghai outbreak, the PLA Navy had been widely expected to launch the vessel on April 23, as part of its 73rd anniversary celebrations. Instead, an official video was released highlighting the achievements of its carrier crews and fighter pilots.

The six-minute video concludes with a note that it was specially produced to celebrate the opening of the party congress, before cutting to a young crewman on the phone to his mother, telling her he is “preparing for a third child”.

A source close to the military said the navy was hoping to launch the carrier around autumn, when the congress is expected to take place.

“Since the video has been released to the public, it’s a compulsory task for shipbuilders to launch the Type 003 ship before the national party congress,” the source said.

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