[If the Chinese truly used a junked old Soviet carrier as the model for how to build a carrier, then I wish that crew good luck because they’re going to need it. We’ve seen how well Soviet naval ships perform, and it shouldn’t exactly inspire confidence in anyone.
Building a modern super carrier properly takes an incredible level of shipbuilding expertise and experience, which the Chinese lack.
My opinion is there are going to be horror stories told about this ship for decades. It’ll be like one of those creaky French aircraft carriers, except worse.]
Very little. It’s like the difference between building/operating a school bus, and building/operating an M1A2 Abrams tank.