China , India and Japan have turned to aircraft carriers as an extension of military prestige . Comment: Carrier race comes amid rising assertiveness of Asian 's military powers . Military analysts say the value of a carrier lies in having one rather than using one .
China , India and Japan have turned to aircraft carriers as an extension of military prestige . Aircraft carriers are expensive to build , logistically complex to operate and costly to defend . Carrier race comes amid rising assertiveness of Asian 's military powers . Military analysts say the value of a carrier lies in having one rather than using one .