Published : 11/06/2026
China's next aircraft carrier, its fourth, which is highly likely to be nuclear-powered, is expected to be launched in 2027.
Which Chinese province will this epoch-making, colossal ship be named after? Will it be the "Guangdong", the absolute favourite among military enthusiasts?
"First-class ships" are named after provincial-level administrative regions
The naming of Chinese naval combat ships is primarily based on geographical locations.
According to the regulations on the naming of naval vessels of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) of China, aircraft carriers and amphibious assault ships belong to the highest class, "First-class ships", which correspond to provincial-level administrative regions.
Out of China's 34 provincial-level divisions, eight names had been used by early 2026. These include Liaoning, Shandong, and Fujian for aircraft carriers; Hainan, Guangxi, Anhui, and Hubei for Type 075 amphibious assault ships; and Sichuan for the Type 076 electromagnetic-catapult amphibious assault ship.
Military enthusiasts believe that, although there are as many as 26 remaining provincial names to choose from, China's fourth aircraft carrier, known as the "Type 004", is expected to follow the precedent of its three predecessors by being named after a coastal province to symbolise China's path towards becoming a major maritime power.
Consequently, the shortlist could narrow down to Hebei, Zhejiang, Jiangsu, and Guangdong, as well as the municipality of Shanghai, the Special Administrative Regions of Hong Kong and Macao—all of the same administrative rank—plus Taiwan, which holds a rather unique status.
Among these, Jiangsu and Guangdong are widely tipped as the frontrunners.
Jiangsu (江蘇) is a major economic province with strong comprehensive strength, befitting a national strategic asset like the Type 004 aircraft carrier. The PLA Navy was founded in Baima Temple, Taizhou, Jiangsu Province, so naming the ship after the province would also be particularly significant.
Guangdong (廣東) is the largest province in terms of both economy and population, and with the headquarters of the Southern Theatre Command Navy located in Zhanjiang, Guangdong Province, it corresponds to the South China Sea, which is China's strategic core.
The "Guangdong" could correspond to the strategic core of South China Sea
China's three previous aircraft carriers, the Liaoning (遼寧艦), correspond to the Bohai Sea, the Shandong (山東艦) to the Yellow Sea, and the Fujian (福建艦) to the East China Sea. If an aircraft carrier named Guangdong is added, it would "close the loop" of defence from the north to the South China Sea.
In addition, Zhejiang (浙江) is also a popular choice. Its competitiveness lies in its important strategic position. If an aircraft carrier needs to be frequently deployed in the direction of the East China Sea in the future, the name "Zhejiang" would be very suitable.
Hong Kong must also be mentioned. On the eve of Navy Day in 2026, 28 organisations in Hong Kong jointly signed a petition hoping that the Central Military Commission would name the Type 004 the "Hong Kong".
2027 marks the 30th anniversary of Hong Kong's return to the Motherland, and if Hong Kong were used as the ship's name, it would be a "precious gift" to Hong Kong. The relevant petition has sparked heated discussions among military enthusiasts.
However, most military enthusiasts believe that Hong Kong has less of a chance than Jiangsu and Guangdong, especially compared to the front-runner, Guangdong.
Incidentally, many countries name their naval vessels after places, but when it comes to naming active aircraft carriers after places, China may be the "only one".
Read more: China's nuclear-powered aircraft carrier to launch in 2027?
Does only China name its aircraft carriers after places?
America's active-duty aircraft carriers are mostly named after former presidents or generals, for example, the USS Ford is named after President Ford, who was in office from 1974 to 1977.
The UK's two active-duty aircraft carriers are named after Queen Elizabeth and the Prince of Wales, respectively; France's only active-duty aircraft carrier is the Charles de Gaulle, and de Gaulle was a former French president and military strategist.
Can Russia still be considered a country that possesses aircraft carriers? Its Admiral Kuznetsov, which has been laid up for many years, is named after a naval admiral. Italy also names its aircraft carriers after people, and the country has one light aircraft carrier.
As for India, the names of its two active-duty aircraft carriers are both "abstract terms". For instance, its domestically built INS Vikrant bears a name that translates to "completely defeating those who dare to fight against me".
(The cover image is generated by AI)
Australia's Canberra and Adelaide, along with Turkey's Anadolu, are all named after geographical locations, though strictly speaking, they are merely amphibious assault ships.
As for Japan's JS Izumo (出雲號) and JS Hyūga (日向號), whether they are helicopter destroyers or "thinly veiled" aircraft carriers remains a blurry line. However, their names derive from ancient, defunct geographical regions, placing them firmly within the realm of history.