A massive Covid-19 outbreak in Shanghai has stalled the planned launch of China’s third aircraft carrier, the South China Morning Post (SCMP) reported on Sunday, citing sources.
According to the publication, the vessel was expected to be ready this month, but the schedule was affected by problems with the supply chain.
“The plan faces delay as the rampant pandemic in Shanghai has delayed the transport of some key components,” an unnamed source told the SCMP, a Hong Kong-based English-language newspaper owned by Alibaba Group.
The source added that “the Shanghai shipyard has been understaffed because almost all local state-owned enterprises need to transfer a certain amount of manpower to help the ongoing anti-pandemic campaign.”