Beijing: China officially commissioned its most advanced and indigenously built aircraft carrier, Fujian, on Friday, marking a defining moment in the country’s naval modernization efforts and global maritime ambitions. The commissioning ceremony took place in Sanya, Hainan Province, and was attended by President Xi Jinping, who hailed the ship as a symbol of China’s growing defense capability and self-reliance in high-end military technology.
The Fujian represents a significant leap in the evolution of China’s navy. It is the third aircraft carrier in the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) fleet, following the Liaoning and Shandong. However, unlike its predecessors, which were either acquired or adapted from Soviet designs, the Fujian is entirely homegrown. It embodies China’s technological progress and its ambition to rival other major naval powers.
One of the carrier’s most striking features is its electromagnetic catapult launch system (EMALS), a sophisticated technology previously used only by the United States Navy. This system allows aircraft to take off more efficiently, enabling faster launches of heavier and more advanced fighter jets. In contrast to the ski-jump ramps of earlier Chinese carriers, the flat-deck design of the Fujian ensures smoother flight operations, improving both safety and sortie rates.
Over the past year, the Fujian has undergone a series of rigorous sea trials that tested its propulsion systems, radar, and aircraft launch and recovery mechanisms. These tests included exercises conducted in sensitive regions such as the Taiwan Strait and the South China Sea, both considered critical zones in China’s strategic defense posture. With its commissioning, China signals that the vessel is now ready to transition from testing to full operational deployment.
Military experts believe that the Fujian’s commissioning underscores Beijing’s determination to extend its naval reach far beyond its coastline. The new carrier enhances China’s ability to operate in distant waters and participate in long-range missions, including humanitarian assistance, anti-piracy operations, and strategic deterrence. However, analysts also caution that developing a fully operational carrier battle group will take years, as it requires advanced coordination between ships, submarines, and carrier-based aircraft.
For neighboring countries and global powers, the launch of the Fujian carries significant strategic implications. It shifts the balance of naval power in the Indo-Pacific region and reinforces China’s position as a leading maritime force. India, Japan, and the United States are expected to monitor the development closely, as the carrier adds a new layer of complexity to regional security dynamics.
Chinese state media celebrated the event as a milestone in the nation’s defense modernization under President Xi’s leadership. The commissioning of the Fujian aligns with Beijing’s long-term vision to build a world-class military capable of protecting its expanding global interests. The carrier’s integration into active service demonstrates not only the technological maturity of China’s defense industry but also its growing confidence on the world stage.
As the Fujian sets sail under the Chinese flag, it marks more than just a triumph of engineering it represents the dawn of a new era in China’s maritime strategy. With this vessel now operational, China inches closer to achieving its goal of becoming a dominant naval power, capable of projecting influence and safeguarding its interests across the world’s oceans.