A six-carrier Chinese fleet is discussed as an expectation, with seven considered as another possibility. The illustrative seven-ship cycle assigns one carrier to major refit, two to minor refits, two to training, and two to full operational availability. The training pair supplies the basis for a possible surge to four. This is a force-availability model, not a statement that seven carriers were already in service. East China Sea and South China Sea requirements provide the geographic context.
Notable Point · 7:21:45-7:22:21
How refits and training reduce a carrier fleet's available strength
An illustrative seven-carrier cycle leaves two fully operational ships, with training carriers supporting a possible surge.