There are several areas of potential interest, with two being the contested waterways around China and the Indian Ocean.
In local waterways, such as the East and South China Seas, Chinese carriers advance Chinese interests by simply serving as displays of military might. "When it comes to projecting power against smaller states, it’s often a matter of demonstrative action or influence," Cordesman explained.
Countries in the region may soon find themselves "dealing with a China that can actually project carrier forces and air power now into areas that they’ve never been able to really project air power before." With that capability, which can be achieved relatively quickly, China can make "a very real difference in regional power and influence."
But China could also extend its reach beyond its immediate neighborhood. Clark expects to see China eventually deploy carrier task forces to the Indian Ocean given Beijing's growing interest in the area.
"Within the South and East China Sea, they have lots of land-based systems, aircraft, and ships they can deploy out there under the cover of their shore-based air defenses and surface missiles," he remarked, "They need the navy to go over and help protect Chinese interests in the Indian Ocean and along the littorals."
China could, for instance, be looking at projecting military power in the Strait of Malacca and along East Africa from Djibouti down to Mozambique and Madagascar, where China has notable business interests. China has already, via legitimate and questionable means, developed a string of ports in Sri Lanka, Djibouti, and Pakistan to support such operations.