China begins sea tests of advanced Fujian aircraft carrier

China begins sea tests of its most advanced aircraft carrier Fujian, marking a major milestone in President Xi Jinping’s goal of boosting the country’s military power

China began sea trials of its third and most advanced aircraft carrier, the Fujian, Chinese media reported Wednesday.

This milestone comes nearly two years after unveiling the aircraft carrier in June 2022.

The Fujian, which is entirely domestically developed and built, surpasses in size and sophistication of its predecessors, the Shandong, which entered service in late 2019, and the Liaoning, which was bought second-hand from Ukraine in 1998.

President Xi Jinping’s strategic vision of transforming China into the region’s foremost military power is reflected in Fujian’s development, aiming to build a “blue water” navy capable of projecting power far beyond China’s shores.

Named after the Chinese province opposite Taiwan, the Fujian has a full-size, flat flight deck equipped with an advanced catapult launch system for jets.

Tests amid high tensions

The sea tests come amid heightened tensions in the South China Sea, exemplified by an incident in which the Chinese coast guard allegedly fired water cannons at two ships near Scarborough Shoal, a disputed area within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone.

Beijing claims sovereignty over much of the South China Sea, despite an international tribunal rejecting China’s claims to the area in 2016.

According to China Daily, Fujian’s sea trials aim to assess the reliability and stability of its propulsion and electric power systems.

Key military asset

The carrier is considered one of China’s most critical military assets and underscores the country’s determination to strengthen its naval capabilities.

Currently, China ranks second only to the United States regarding the number of aircraft carriers, with 11 aircraft carriers and nine aircraft-carrying amphibious assault ships.

Source: Reuters