As I understand it this first carrier is just that thier stepping stone. I am sure they will copy the Nimitz at somepoint.
Probably but it doesn't seem to fit their operational desires. Why start with this monstrosity when you could do it more effectively and more efficiently....and here's the reason (they could apparently steal our stealth plans but the CV designs must not have fit on one flash memory drive, lol):
They bought this CV from the Russians and refit it....from the Washington Post (11-28-12):
"But China’s announcement on Sunday of landings on its first operational carrier the Liaoning – a reconditioned Soviet era vessel purchased from Ukraine ostensibly for use as a casino — will unnerve some of its already jumpy neighbours.
With the exception of a small force in the Indian Ocean to counter piracy, China’s entire naval focus remains on its immediate neighbourhood — the South China Sea, particularly Taiwan, and disputed waters with Japan, Vietnam and others."