China's new (and first) aircraft carrier isn't fully operational yet. But whatever its ultimate naval potency, we know that it does at least float! It's currently in a mainland dock for further dressing up and hosting of crew training before setting sail.
We recall that the very idea of China even acquiring an aircraft carrier, when originally floated by Beijing, was not popular elsewhere. Hearts sank around the world, then enamored with China's declared policy of "peaceful rising." Why would a truly peaceful-rising country need an aircraft carrier?
The answer is that the Chinese apparently want what the Americans have. It's not that China is preparing for war (as far as anyone knows) with the United States. It's simply behaving as any rising power has throughout history. It now has serious money to throw around, so why not have a serious military to throw around, too?