CaliToday (09/12/2025): In a striking strategic pivot for the People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN), reports emerging this December suggest a major shake-up in Beijing's carrier program. While China accelerates toward a nuclear-powered future, it is simultaneously looking to offload its "growing pains" the troubled conventional carriers that have become more of a logistical burden than a strategic asset.
1. The Burden of the Diesel Giants
Just a few years after their fanfare launches, China's conventionally powered aircraft carriers (such as the Shandong and the Liaoning) are reportedly facing significant operational hurdles.
Operational Nightmares: Insiders suggest these oil-guzzling behemoths suffer from limited range and frequent refueling requirements, which necessitate a massive, vulnerable fleet of tankers to accompany them. They are described by some analysts as "floating logistical nightmares" that tie down resources rather than projecting power effectively.
The "Fire Sale": Rumors are circulating that Beijing is quietly exploring options to sell or lease these older, conventional platforms to developing nations in the Global South or "client states." This move would allow the PLAN to cut its losses, shed the high maintenance costs of these "diesel lemons," and free up budget and dry docks for "next-gen" hardware.
2. The Type 004: Entering the Nuclear Club
While the old fleet struggles, the future looks radically different. Recent satellite imagery analysis by The War Zone has dropped a bombshell: the under-construction Type 004 carrier appears to be nuclear-powered.
The Smoking Gun: Imagery from the Dalian shipyard reveals a hull section featuring what looks unmistakably like a nuclear reactor containment unit. This heavy shielding is the hallmark of nuclear propulsion, a feature absent in all previous Chinese carriers.
Supercarrier Status: If confirmed, the Type 004 will be a true "supercarrier," comparable in size and capability to the U.S. Navy’s Nimitz or Ford classes. The imagery suggests a wider deck with space for multiple electromagnetic catapult tracks, allowing for a much higher sortie generation rate than the ski-jump designs of the past.
3. A Strategic Leap
Construction of the Type 004, which reportedly began around mid-2024, represents China's bid to break the "Second Island Chain."
Unlimited Range: Unlike the "diesel lemons" currently in service, a nuclear Type 004 would have virtually unlimited range, allowing the PLAN to operate globally without being tethered to friendly ports or tankers.
Power Projection: The massive electrical output of nuclear reactors is essential not just for propulsion, but for powering next-generation weapons, high-energy lasers, and the power-hungry electromagnetic launch systems (EMALS).
4. Official Silence
When pressed earlier this year in March, PLA Navy Admiral Yuan Huazhi confirmed the fourth carrier was under construction but coyly refused to confirm its propulsion type, stating simply that there were "no technical bottlenecks." The appearance of the reactor containment unit now seemingly speaks for him.
Summary
China is attempting a difficult naval maneuver: discarding the "beta test" carriers that failed to meet expectations while simultaneously leaping into the elite tier of nuclear naval power. If successful, the PLAN will join the U.S. and France as the only navies capable of fielding nuclear carriers—a move that fundamentally alters the balance of power in the Indo-Pacific.