Li Jie, a Beijing-based senior researcher at the PLA's Naval Military Studies Research Institute, confirmed at a national defense education event in Beijing, that the PLA Navy “will continue to develop and build the third, and even the fourth aircraft carriers". He said one, the third, will be the first carrier to boast a catapult take-off system, which assists aircraft in taking off, instead of the ski-jump deck used in its two predecessors. He also said the power system of the fourth carrier would be “very likely to adopt significant changes.”

(Comment: Li Jie’s comments appear to be the first public confirmation from a PLA Navy expert of China’s ambitious plan to establish at least a four-carrier combat group. Li Jie is a retired senior PLAN Captain.)