File photo of China's Ministry of National Defense (MND) spokesperson Tan Kefei. (Photo: Courtesy of MND)

China will take into consideration the demands of the country's national security and the development of its military technology in drafting its future aircraft carrier plans, a Chinese defense spokesperson said Thursday.

Tan Kefei, a spokesperson of China's Ministry of National Defense, made the remarks at a routine press briefing in response to a media inquiry on whether China will have a fourth aircraft carrier following the recent launch of its third one, the Fujian.

China launches the country's third aircraft carrier, the Fujian, in Shanghai on June 17, 2022. (Photo: Xinhua)

"China's development and upgrading of its military equipment are not targeted at any country or any specific objective and will not constitute a threat to any country or region," Tan stressed, "Instead, they are designed to safeguard the country's sovereignty, security and development interests."

China's nature as a socialist nation, its strategic choice of taking a path of peaceful development and its independent foreign policy of peace all determine that China will be unswervingly committed to a national defense policy that is defensive in nature, Tan added.

(Compiled by Chen Rui)