The conversation between human and AI assistant.
Why does China as 3rd military power in the world just have 1 aircraft carrier?
But isn't an aircraft carrier still important for power projection?
It can be, but China has invested heavily in developing land-based missile systems, which can provide similar capabilities at a lower cost and with less vulnerability to attack. Additionally, China's naval strategy is centered around anti-access/area denial, which aims to prevent other countries from accessing its coastal waters rather than projecting power beyond its shores.