The term “minor power” is very appropriate for the modern United Kingdom.

Generally only amongst small-minded people that want it to be that way, but are constantly frustrated because it keeps doing well.

There is no real immediate threat in East Asia either. Japan or South Korea is no more likely to attack China than Belgium would attack the UK.

That’s a stupid comment to make. There is much more military tension in East Asia than there is in Western Europe.

China has gained broader global interests.

But it still has little desire to deploy its military around the world.

Long term military procurement is meant to fulfill long term needs. An aircraft carrier isn’t a short term purchase.

Well, duh!

None of that means China should start building aircraft carriers now just because it may want them in the future. Not only is it difficult to know when China will really need aircraft carriers, but I don’t believe its surface and submarine fleet is ready to take on escorting them in hostile locations where an aircraft carrier would most be needed.

So was Hong Kong before the 1997 turn over.

What the hell does that have to do with anything? The Russian Far East was also within striking distance before China whimped out and gave up its claim to it to. So what?