Taipei: Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense has confirmed that China’s most advanced aircraft carrier, the Fujian, sailed through the Taiwan Strait on Tuesday, marking its first passage since entering service last month. The transit of the powerful warship through this strategic waterway underscores growing military activity in a region already marked by deep political and security tensions.
According to Taiwanese military officials, the Fujian China’s third and most technologically capable aircraft carrier, equipped with an electromagnetic catapult launch system was carefully tracked throughout its journey. Taiwan released a grainy, black-and-white image showing the vessel moving without aircraft on deck, suggesting the passage was conducted without visible offensive operations. Taiwanese authorities believe the carrier is now heading towards Shanghai’s Changxing Island, a major naval shipbuilding hub, after completing the transit.
Beijing has not issued an immediate statement on the carrier’s movement. However, the strategic implications are already drawing scrutiny from defense analysts and governments across the Indo-Pacific region. China claims sovereignty over the entire Taiwan Strait, a narrow yet crucial maritime conduit separating the self-ruled island from the mainland, while Taiwan and the United States maintain that the strait constitutes international waters open to freedom of navigation for all nations.
The transit of the Fujian occurred amidst ongoing Chinese military operations near Taiwan, as Taipei reported that at least 23 Chinese warplanes, including J-10 fighter jets and long-range H-6K bombers, were involved in a “joint combat readiness patrol” around the island on the same day. Taiwanese defense forces continue to monitor these deployments closely, citing a pattern of increased sorties and naval movements.
This development fits into a larger context of frequent Chinese military maneuvers near Taiwan, including repeated sorties that cross the unofficial median line of the Taiwan Strait and broader aerial and naval deployments around Taiwanese territory. Recent Defense Ministry reports have documented multiple Chinese aircraft and vessels operating near Taiwan’s air defense identification zone (ADIZ) and adjacent waters.
The Fujian’s passage through the Taiwan Strait carries significant strategic symbolism. As China’s most sophisticated carrier, its movements reflect Beijing’s expanding naval capabilities and willingness to demonstrate them in contested areas. The ship’s capabilities notably its ability to launch a larger and more diverse array of carrier-borne aircraft mark a substantial advancement over China’s earlier carriers, Liaoning and Shandong, and contribute to evolving power dynamics in East Asian waters.
Taiwan’s government has repeatedly rejected Beijing’s claims over the island, asserting that only its people can determine their political future. Taipei views such military operations as part of sustained pressure from the mainland, designed to intimidate and influence both domestic and international audiences.
Analysts say the incident will likely deepen international concerns over stability in the Taiwan Strait, potentially affecting diplomatic relationships and defense policies among regional powers and global stakeholders. Continued patrols and military posturing by both China and external actors including freedom of navigation transits by allied navies are expected to keep the waterway at the center of geopolitical focus in the months ahead.