GAO report was written when US was at its zenith, and even then GAO recommended conventional carrier fleet. Clearly, it wasn't a rounding error and it still isn't. You offer no argument as to why China's aircraft carrier should be nuclear powered other than because US does it, and the reason US does it is on shaky foundation to begin with. China no longer being dirt poor doesn't mean China is now free to set money on fire, as there are always areas that could use more funding even within a military.
Look at the situation.
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The US has a global network of supply bases, so that its aircraft carriers can be easily resupplied with a minimum of replenishment ships.
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If China is operating aircraft carriers within the 2nd Island Chain (3000km), then Chinese aircraft carrier groups should be fine with a single Type-901 replenishment ship. In such a scenario, conventionally-powered aircraft carriers would be a lower-cost option, as nuclear-powered aircraft carriers would also need a Type-901 anyway.
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But if Chinese aircraft carriers are operating to the 3rd Island Chain (say 8000km to Hawaii), China doesn't have local resupply bases.
My guess is that another 2 replenishment ships (of some sort) would be required, along with Frigate escorts.
If we use US costings, these ships should cost in excess of $2 Billion.
But note that the cost for the nuclear reactors on a Ford-class aircraft carrier comes to $2 Billion.
So it is cheaper to spend money upfront on nuclear-power for the aircraft carrier, rather than 4 additional ships.
In addition, the nuclear-power option has significantly better ongoing operating costs.
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Granted, these are costings based on US numbers, but a similar calculation should apply to the Chinese Navy, so it makes sense for Chinese aircraft carriers to go with nuclear-power.