I've heard that during the second world war the united states was able to build a carrier each month.
These were jeep/ escort/ light carriers 10k-15k ton carriers built on typically on fast oiler and cargo hulls with a bigger boiler-turbine or deisel set. no armor, basic air defenses.
Not irrelevent today,
these type of vessels are prob forte of all these private yards up and down yangtze region.
given what chinese industry is capable of.
I think there is a niche to be exploited here.
given the experience in ww2,
It is prob possible to design a modern day mini-jeep carrier where
*the hull and power plant is off-the-shelf commercial.
*20000 ton, commercial grade double hull based on tanker design, diesel powered two screw give minimum manuverability.
*25 nots top speed
*crewing requirement of a big destroyer (200-300). (commercial gets less)
* bolted on weapon stations.
*emphasis is on the biggest deck space for the tonnage.
*able to support attack/transport/asw/aew helicopter. in its basic form.
*basic cargo facility to act like logistical nodes for escorts (unrep fuel, cargo)
*able to support 12 light semi-stealthy STOBAR fighters of JF-17/FC-1 size comfortablly, 24 un comfortablly. given man power surge.
*number one thing is to keep the cost down.
would be a very flexible and powerful asset, if build in quantity (30 untis).
empahsis is damage resilience, persistence prescence and firepower, through sheer numbers.
2nd tier yards in china would able to handle these constructions no problem.
if they can build an oil tanker they can build these.