2nd aircraft carrier confirmed

New vessel, fully designed in China, will help protect strategic maritime interests

China is building its second aircraft carrier in the coastal city of Dalian, Liaoning province, the Ministry of National Defense confirmed on Thursday.

Defense observers have long expected that the second carrier was on the way after China's first aircraft carrier the Liaoning - developed from a vessel sold by Ukraine - was delivered and commissioned to the People's Liberation Army in September 2012.