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BEIJING (AP) — China has launched its first aircraft carrier built entirely on its own, in a demonstration of the growing technical sophistication of its defense industries and determination to safeguard its maritime territorial claims and crucial trade routes.

The 50,000-ton carrier was towed from its dockyard just after 9 a.m. Wednesday following a ceremony in the northern port city of Dalian, where its predecessor, the Soviet-built Liaoning, also underwent extensive refurbishing before being commissioned in 2012, the Ministry of National Defense said.

Development of the new carrier began in 2013 and construction in late 2015. It's expected to be formally commissioned sometime before 2020, after sea trials and the arrival of its full air complement.

Vice chairman of China's Central Military Commission and Communist Party Central Committee member Fan Changlong presided over the launch, which came just three days after the anniversary of the People's Liberation Army Navy's symbolic founding in 1949.

via hosted.ap.org

Basically a repeat Kuznetsov, the new carrier gives China both experience in building large combatants, and eventually, a second flight deck to build a core of experienced naval aviators.

Both this new carrier, and its predecessor the Liaoning, will have very modest combat power. The real challenge for China will be building the follow on Type 002 class, which are expected to be larger, and equipped with steam catapults, and thus somewhat more capable, with larger air wings.