China's global ambitions

China's Robot Manufacturing Has Grown by Millions of Square Meters in the 20s

China has carried out a major upgrade of its robot manufacturing in the 2020s, reports CNN, which analyzed satellite images, maps and official statements.

The facilities where the country conducts production, research and testing of robots have expanded by more than two million square meters since 2020.

The satellite images show new towers and bunkers and in some cases even robot parts lying openly on the ground.

- China is positioning itself as a global superpower. We are at the beginning of a new arms race, says William Alberque, a researcher at the Pacific Forum and former head of arms control at NATO.

Several of the locations that CNN examined were previously unknown.

China has put its third aircraft carrier into service

China has put its third aircraft carrier into service on Friday, state media reported, citing several news agencies.

The ship, named Fujian, the same name as the province that faces Taiwan, is described as a milestone for President Xi Jinping, writes AFP.

In recent years, Xi has invested billions of dollars in building up the defense, especially the navy, to strengthen China's reach in the Pacific and challenge the US presence in the region.

According to analysts spoken to by Reuters, it will likely take another year before the aircraft carrier is fully operational.