China is reported to have purchased a run down former Ukrainian aircraft carrier for its navy. This seems to bother some people, apparently those who live in Asian countries where there are some disputes about territorial waters involving China.

Nobody seems to know why China wants an aircraft carrier, since they previously have been fairly content to get by without one. Maybe they just saw one on special and it was an impulse buy. If it isn't in top class condition, why would a nation which presumably wants to advance itself buy one?

The USA has the most aircraft carriers, and we, naturally enough, have none, since they are so hellishly expensive. Although the media can't bring themselves to suggest this, it seems pretty obvious to me why a country like China would buy a broken down carrier. They still have a relatively cheap labour force. Whilst not exactly renowned for innovative break throughs, they have been known to adopt the reverse engineering approach with gusto, and don't seem to be too squeamish about intellectual property laws either. So expect to see a fleet of aircraft carriers coming out of China in the next few years, all looking a bit like a Soviet/Ukraine designed carrier. If you can make a replica of a Louis Vuitton handbag, you can make an aircraft carrier.