China Commissions 3rd Aircraft Carrier 'Fujian' As It Seeks To Counter US Hegemony

Last Updated:November 07, 2025, 12:30 IST

China commissions its third aircraft carrier, Fujian, in Sanya with President Xi Jinping. Fujian features EMALS, can carry 50 aircraft.

China commissions its third aircraft carrier, Fujian, in Sanya with President Xi Jinping. Fujian features EMALS, can carry 50 aircraft. (image: ICAS)

China has officially commissioned its third aircraft carrier, the Fujian, and the first built entirely to an indigenous design. The commissioning ceremony, held in Sanya on Hainan Island, was presided over by President Xi Jinping, who boarded the vessel and declared its entry into service.

Named after the coastal province opposite Taiwan, Fujian carries symbolic as well as strategic weight. Unlike China’s first two carriers, the Liaoning and the Shandong, which are both based on older Soviet-era designs and use ski-jump ramps or STOBAR for aircraft launch. 

With a length of 316m and a displacement of 80,000 tonnes, the Fujian features a flat flight deck that can carry up to 50 aircraft and electromagnetic aircraft launch systems (EMALS), which enables it to launch heavier, fully-loaded aircraft and gives it a markedly greater operational range.

During its sea trials, the Fujian tested carrier-capable versions of China’s new jets, including the stealth J‑35, the KJ-600 airborne early-warning and control system (AEWCS), and a variant of the older J-15 fighter. This signals a major leap in China’s naval aviation capability and demonstrates an ability to project power beyond its near seas.

The timing of this commissioning is significant. Beijing has long pledged to build a “world-class" military by mid-century, and Fujian is a visible symbol of that ambition. The carrier will help the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) operate with greater autonomy farther from the Chinese mainland, including into the so-called Second Island Chain, where it can challenge the naval dominance of the United States Navy in the Indo-Pacific.

China still trails the US in key carrier metrics, including the number of carriers, nuclear propulsion systems, and overseas bases. The Fujian remains conventionally powered, which limits its endurance compared to the US Navy’s nuclear-powered fleet.

In his remarks, Xi described Fujian as a milestone in China’s modernization of the armed forces. He inspected the ship’s bridge and its advanced systems, underscoring the political significance of the launch. For Beijing, the carrier is both a tool of strategy and a means of bolstering national pride.

News world China Commissions 3rd Aircraft Carrier 'Fujian' As It Seeks To Counter US Hegemony

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