BEIJING: China has officially commissioned its third and most advanced aircraft carrier, Fujian, marking a major step forward in President Xi Jinping’s efforts to modernize the nation’s navy and enhance its maritime power.
The Fujian, named after the province facing Taiwan, is China’s first carrier equipped with an Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System (EMALS) a technology previously unique to the U.S. Navy’s USS Gerald R. Ford. This advanced system enables fighter jets to take off carrying heavier payloads and more fuel, significantly boosting operational range and combat capability.
State media reported that President Xi Jinping personally approved the adoption of the EMALS system for the vessel. The commissioning ceremony took place Wednesday at a naval port in Hainan, where Xi boarded the ship, inspected its combat systems, and signed the ship’s official logbook. Xinhua described the ceremony as “grand and enthusiastic.”
Following months of successful sea trials, the Fujian now joins China’s two existing carriers the Liaoning (commissioned in 2012) and the Shandong (commissioned in 2019). Naval expert Collin Koh from Nanyang Technological University said the Fujian is “by many measures more capable” than its predecessors, offering greater combat endurance and striking power due to its flat deck design.
In September, the Fujian drew international attention after sailing through the Taiwan Strait for “scientific research and training missions,” a move analysts believe was intended as a show of strength. Around the same time, China released video footage showing aircraft takeoffs and landings on the carrier, including its J-35 stealth fighter jets.
Chinese state media praised the commissioning as a “new breakthrough” in naval development and a “major milestone” in the country’s quest to build a world-class blue water navy.
