China Confirms Plans for Building a Second Aircraft Carrier

China has confirmed its plans for building a second aircraft carrier. The confirmation comes after months of speculations based on satellite images and other evidence.

The country's Ministry of Defense spokesman, Colonel Yang Yujun, revealed on Thursday that the 50,000-ton carrier is being made in the port city of Dalian, which is in the northeast region of China.

The vessel will be constructed using domestic technology based on the navy's refurbishing job on the first carrier. Their first carrier, the Liaoning, which was bought second-hand from Ukraine back in 1998, is not fully functional.

"China has a long coast line and a vast maritime area under our jurisdiction," Yang said, reported by Reuters. "To safeguard our maritime sovereignty, interests and rights is the sacred mission of the Chinese armed forces."

On the new carrier, there will be a ski-jump takeoff, which the Liaoning does not have. The second carrier will also operate the Shenyang J-15 fighter.

Yang added that a second carrier would help prevent others from bullying China.

"The U.S. has many aircraft carriers that are traveling all over the place in the South China Sea, which has caused problems for us," he said. "Having a second aircraft carrier reduces the pressure on us. It will keep us from being bullied."

China currently has claims of almost all of the territory in the South China Sea. However, since five other nations have competing claims on the territory, the U.S has heavily criticized China's military expansion in the region. The claims on the South China Sea, which is a vital trading area, have also caused tensions between China and other Asian nations, such as Japan and Vietnam.

China's aircraft carrier program has remained a top state secret.