The People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) will take military action to protect China's huge business interests worldwide and the arrival of its second aircraft carrier -- the CNS Shandong (CV-17) -- will better enable PLAN to accomplish this mission.

CNS Shandong, which was launched only on April 26, is seen by Beijing as a major step forward in its military modernization. The launch of Shandong also highlights the technical progress China has made over the past several decades.

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Shandong is expected to enter PLAN service in 2020 after it undergoes exhaustive trails to debug and test all its onboard systems, especially its aircraft launching and recovery systems.

Chinese state-controlled media noted that as it has integrated more closely with the rest of the world, China interests has beyond its borders have grown commensurately.

"Building a strong defense capability with a widespread global reach is now necessary to protect China's businesses and the massive interests that arise from them," said a report in a website of the People's Liberation Army (PLA).

China's most important task remains domestic development and its defense policies first and foremost are "aimed at ensuring a peaceful external environment and providing a security guarantee for its own economic development and social progress."

China is committed to meeting to defending offshore waters such as the South China Sea and to protect these waters by building a multi-functional and efficient navy. This kind of a navy will safeguard China's national security, territorial integrity and development interests.

"Aircraft carriers are the proven way to accomplish these tasks," said the story.

Shandong will become the most powerful warship in the PLAN because of its offensive airpower, and the fact it will be outfitted with the most sophisticated radar system in the PLAN Surface Fleet.

Shandong will become the flagship of both the North Sea Fleet and the East Sea Fleet of the PLAN.

Shandong will carry 48 aircraft, a number larger than that of the CNS Liaoning (CV-16), China's only aircraft carrier, which can take 36 aircraft. Shandong will house up to 32 Shenyang J-15 jets, a huge boost to its offensive firepower.

Shandong is the first aircraft carrier built entirely in China. The Liaoning was purchased from Ukraine in the late 1990s and towed to China for an extensive rebuild.