China’s new aircraft carrier underlines need for the Aukus pact

Analysis: As the world's largest navy tries to push it back in the Pacific, the US requires allies in the region

In the dockyards of Shanghai, the next step in China's naval expansion is taking shape: a 315-metre aircraft carrier, whose construction progress was revealed by satellite photography in May this year.

China has the world's largest navy and the largest shipbuilding industry, but the Type 003 is the latest step up: a vessel the same size as the latest US Ford class with a matching electromagnetic catapult for launching jets.