China has begun preparations for the third aircraft carrier. China commenced preparations for the third ship's construction, first of which was purchased from Ukraine, while the construction of the second proceeds.

China's first aircraft carrier, Liaoning, was built in 1988 in the Soviet Navy. The name of the ship was Riga when its keel was first laid. China bought the skeleton of the ship, name of which has been changed as Varyag in 1998. The ship was brought to the country by passing through Istanbul Bosphorus and joined the Chinese Navy in 2012. The name of the third ship to be built is not yet known.