Breaking the chain? Why Hainan holds the key to survival for China’s aircraft carriers

The PLA Navy’s aircraft carrier base in Hainan could prove vital to the fleet’s survivability and crucial in countering US containment along the first island chain in wartime, according to a prominent mainland Chinese magazine. Such a posture could also support efforts to impose a maritime blockade around Taiwan in the event of a conflict, Defence Review reported this month. China now operates three aircraft carriers: the Liaoning, the Shandong, and the most advanced, the catapult-equipped...