China’s Promotional Video Suggests First Nuclear-Powered Aircraft Carrier

On the PLA Navy’s 77th anniversary, the video “Into The Deep” showed three officers named after Liaoning, Shandong and Fujian, then a 19-year-old recruit called He Jian. Analysts note that “He” sounds like the Mandarin word for “nuclear” and “Jian” means “ship,” and the recruit’s age matches the sequential hull number 19, prompting speculation that the next carrier will be nuclear-powered.

South China Morning Post

China’s navy operates three conventionally powered carriers—Liaoning (16), Shandong (17) and Fujian (18). Since Xi Jinping’s 2012 pledge to build a “blue-water navy,” Beijing has accelerated carrier development. A Pentagon report (Dec 2023) projects nine carriers by 2035, calling the build-up the largest since World II. The fourth vessel, Type 004, is reportedly under construction at Dalian and expected to be nuclear-powered.

The Independent

The three active carriers bear hull numbers 16-18 under the provincial-naming rule. Type 004 will displace 110,000–120,000 tonnes, house twin reactors, feature electromagnetic catapults and operate 100 aircraft, including J-35 fighters and KJ-600 drones. Pentagon estimates a new carrier roughly every 20 months to meet the nine-carrier target. China claims 11,000 islands, 60 % in the East China Sea and 30 % in the South China Sea.

The Independent

Global Times called the video’s ending an “Easter egg” that symbolically ties the recruit’s name to a nuclear vessel. The Pentagon’s December assessment highlighted the planned nuclear carrier as a major shift in China’s power-projection. Gregory Poling of CSIS noted that China’s artificial-island bases now enable daily patrols up to 1,000 nautical miles from its coast, underscoring broader maritime ambitions.

The Independent

Analysts and social-media users view the He Jian reference as a hint, yet no official Chinese source confirms a nuclear carrier. The naming could serve propaganda rather than indicate a concrete program, and details on reactor design, catapult technology and commissioning schedule remain unverified.

South China Morning Post

• “He” sounds like the Chinese word for “nuclear” and “Jian” is the word for a “ship.” — SCMP analysis, South China Morning Post

South China Morning Post

• “The 'Easter egg' in PLA Navy promotional films has become something of a tradition, and the ending of this latest release is rich with symbolism,” — Global Times, state media

The Independent

• “A Pentagon report released in December last year claimed that China aims to expand its navy with nine aircraft carriers by 2035, up from the current three in service.” — Pentagon report, U.S. Department of Defense

The Independent

• “The facilities on its artificial island bases have allowed Chinese law enforcement, naval, and militia vessels to spend every day of the year patrolling the waters of its neighbours up to 1,000 nautical miles ?from the Chinese coastline,” — Gregory Poling, CSIS

The Independent

Construction of Type 004 at Dalian continues, though a commissioning date is undisclosed. If commissioned, the vessel would be China’s first nuclear-powered carrier, marking a significant leap in Beijing’s naval capabilities. Observers will track PLA Navy releases and U.S. defense assessments for updates on the 2035 nine-carrier goal.

The Independent