Question is....if there is to be a sister ship to the 003 (which i think is highly likely).......will the PLAN wait till 003 is in service to check that all is ok with the design of the ship, or actually start construction of the sister ship soon, whilst 003 is itself still being constructed. I presume by now the PLAN would be confident of their warship designs......but then again the final decision will be a political one?
The final decision will be a budgetary one. The Chinese economy is larger than ever but unlike the financial sorcerers on the other side of the Pacific, our shipyards do not accept monopoly money. Remember that Liaoning was purchased using private funds because the political leadership did not want a carrier.
I think it would be acceptable for construction to begin on a second carrier similar to 003. Many of the newer systems that might be considered "high-risk" can be adjusted even if construction starts now. The hull form is proven, the powerplant is proven, the overall design is proven. The only key points of failure would be the EMALS, the new island design, and the new large elevators.
So assuming this 003 sister ship exists, even if they started steel cutting last year and started building modules next year, it would not be until 2024 that they start assembly in dry dock. By then, the first 003 would be nearly done with its sea trials and any issues with new hardware would have been clear, and there would be ample time to make corrections for the new hull while it's still in pieces.
But this ship's existence is not confirmed, and not highly likely at all. At this moment there is only minimal (though not zero) evidence to support the possibility.
