China's Concerns Over Turkey's New Aircraft Carrier Ambitions

China is concerned about Turkey's aircraft carriers because it knows they are useless in the Aegean.

Turkey's aircraft carriers, particularly the 60,000-ton aircraft carrier "Thrace" under construction—which is twice as large as the TCG Anadolu—have elicited various reactions and captured China's interest. These Turkish carriers are intended for power projection missions. In the Aegean, geographical constraints make them less effective, but they can serve purposes in the Mediterranean, the Black Sea, and the Indo-Pacific.

China is keeping an eye on developments in the Pacific, where Turkey seeks to bolster its military and diplomatic influence. Ankara has military ties with nations like Japan, South Korea, and the Philippines, countries that have territorial disputes with China in the South China Sea. The participation of Turkish naval forces in joint exercises could be seen as problematic for Beijing.

China also has significant economic and strategic interests in Africa and the Indian Ocean. Turkey's involvement in regions such as the Horn of Africa (Somalia, Djibouti) and Libya positions it as another geopolitical player. The narrow Aegean Sea limits the full utilization of an aircraft carrier or LHD, owing to the proximity of Greek islands and the Greek Air Force's ability to target them easily. However, in the Mediterranean, Red Sea, and Indian Ocean, such a vessel can be employed for power displays, amphibious assaults, and drone operations—actions of which Beijing is certainly aware.

China might be concerned about Turkey's expanding role as a naval power in regions where China holds strategic interests. Notably, China's reactions have been headline news in Turkey, with Turkish sources claiming that "Turkey’s new military venture is causing panic in China."

An article published in the PLA Daily, the editorial organ of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army, reported that Turkey announced the construction of a large aircraft carrier. The article stated that this 60,000-ton vessel would be twice the size of the 28,000-ton TCG Anadolu, currently the largest warship in Turkey, and used the headline "Turkey begins forming a dual-aircraft carrier group," according to Turkish star.com.tr.

The Chinese are particularly perturbed by Erdogan's comments, aiming to make Turkey an influential global power. With a large aircraft carrier, the Turkish navy will be able to operate in distant regions such as the Indian Ocean and the Atlantic.