Agreed, and China's carriers are ineffective against U.S. or other advanced nations' naval power. The theory is that they are designed for lower-end targets and

Agreed, and China's carriers are ineffective against U.S. or other advanced nations' naval power. The theory is that they are designed for lower-end targets and because China, wanting to be seen as a global power, wants the symbol of global naval power. Perception matters a lot in international affairs and politics: How many would take China seriously as a global naval power if they had no carriers, while the US, Russia, UK, France, and also India all do have them? People would perceive that China has not caught up yet.