China's New 004 Nuclear Carriers to be larger than Fords

China has a continuous build aircraft carrier program that may be catching up to the US Ford carrier program in quality https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_aircraft_carrier_programme#List_of_carriers

Despite Western criticism (mainly reliance on conventional propulsion) see here and here China’s latest carrier, the Fujian Type 003, appears relatively successful. It boasts the latest functioning electromagnetic (EMALS) CATOBAR system https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_aircraft_carrier_Fujian already used on USS Ford.

The Type 004 is planned to be larger than the Type 003, even 10,000 to 20,000 tonnes larger than a Ford. China has suggested the 004s may use novel TMSR-LF1 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TMSR-LF1 thorium-based molten-salt reactors. This may be a false claim or at least a technical risk, likely to have a PWR backup plan. Construction of the first 004 started in 2024–2025. The large size of a 004 would permit larger, heavier carrier aircraft (like the J-20) with a higher war-load, and longer range than aircraft on Ford carriers.

Along with China’s 3 existing carriers, 6 x 004s in all may be built to give China regional dominance in the Western Pacific by 2035 over the Fords. This is if Fords continue to have global responsibilities or withdraw to a US coastal defensive posture under America First.