The first Chinese operational aircraft carrier is of course much more primitive than the American big flat tops. The U.S. began carrier almost a century ago, China just beginning. But you gotta start somewhere. 

The Chinese carriers, although blue water in theory, is strictly for home waters defense. This is true even after the fleet of 4 is built some 15 years in the future. This is so due to haul design (non nuclear), weak catapult and limited capability air wings. Against an aggressive U.S. navy their role is to act as trigger point and decoy. They can't bring down U.S. navy in any serious numbers. The bringing down will be done by land based missiles and air force. Again, they are purely defensive. 
Only the U.S. possess offensive sea power, because it is an hegemonic power willing to project force. The difference in the future is the reaction when the U.S. projects its forces too much. Against a China, that force projection will be chopped off. And the Americans know it.