Displacement is said to be about 65,000 tons, slightly less (if I’m not mistaken) than Britain’s new Queen Elizabeth-class carriers, and about 40,000 tons less than our Nimitz-class CVNs.
One of the biggest features missing from China’s second carrier are steam catapults. Instead, they’re relying on the ski ramp design used in their first carrier (purchased from Russia). Catapults are more complex, but they allow you to generate more sorties, and allow strike aircraft to carry heavier payloads. The embarked air wing on the Chinese carrier is probably somewhere around 40 aircraft, including strike fighters, ASW assets, C2 helos and rescue choppers.
Definitely not a vessel that can project significant power a great distance from China’s coastline. But it can function as a seaborne extension of the air defense network. It will also help China gain more expertise in carrier ops, laying the foundation for their third flattop, which will be larger, equipped with steam catapults and carry a wider range of strike and support aircraft.
Still, the PLAN is a long way from matching the USN in carrier operations. When they’re able to launch/recover dozens of strike sorties at night, in marginal weather, in hostile waters, let me know.
The fact that China now has carriers makes a war over Taiwan much more dangerous. For the longest time their aircraft would come from one direction.
They are a long ways away from matching us. I am not even sure if they are trying.