China is getting stronger. It just launched the first aircraft carrier it built on its own. It now has two aircraft carriers. The new carrier weighs 50,000 tons. It was launched at a special ceremony. Navy officials broke a bottle of champagne over the carrier. This is tradition. Development of the carrier started in 2013 and building began in 2015. The Chinese Navy will test it at sea for three years. It will start operating in 2020 when all its airplanes will be ready.
A spokesperson was, "proud of the great achievement made by the country in modernizing the national defense and military". The new carrier will mean China can protect itself better. It will help protect China's borders, shipping and trade routes. A social media user said the new carrier was, "a symbol of China's technological power…and strength". China may build two, three or four more carriers. The new ones could be as big as the 100,000-ton U.S. Navy carriers.