China: China has officially commissioned its most advanced aircraft carrier, the Fujian, strengthening the nation’s drive to extend its naval reach well beyond its own waters.
State media confirmed that President Xi Jinping presided over the commissioning ceremony in Sanya, Hainan province, where more than 2,000 navy personnel and shipbuilders gathered to witness the milestone.
The Fujian, named after the southeastern province opposite Taiwan, represents China’s growing ambition to rival the United States in global maritime reach.
This is China’s third aircraft carrier but the first entirely designed and built domestically, a milestone that underscores the country’s rapidly advancing shipbuilding capabilities. Unlike its predecessors, the Liaoning and Shandong, which are based on older Russian designs, the Fujian features cutting-edge technology such as electromagnetic catapults for launching aircraft—systems that previously existed only on the US Navy’s latest Ford-class carriers.
With its flat deck and powerful launch system, the Fujian can deploy more aircraft, including heavier and more advanced fighter jets, than China’s earlier carriers. During recent sea trials, the vessel successfully launched several aircraft, including the new carrier-based J-35 stealth fighter, the KJ-600 early-warning plane, and an upgraded J-15 fighter variant.
Xi attends commissioning of China’s Fujian aircraft carrier pic.twitter.com/MBzYaECqyn
— China Xinhua News (@XHNews) November 7, 2025
These capabilities allow the Fujian to conduct independent operations further from China’s coastline, giving the People’s Liberation Army Navy greater reach across the Indo-Pacific. It no longer has to depend on land-based radar or aircraft for reconnaissance, making it a far more effective asset in long-range missions.
Fujian is the most visible symbol of President Xi’s sweeping military modernisation programme. His goal is to build a modern fighting force by 2035 and a world-class military to rival the United States by mid-century.
Greg Poling, director of the Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, said the addition of the Fujian strengthens Beijing’s push for a true blue-water navy. He noted that while carriers offer limited advantage in near seas like the South China Sea and East China Sea, they are essential for challenging US influence in the wider Indo-Pacific.
Fujian’s entry into service signals that China is no longer content with regional dominance. It is positioning itself as a global naval power.
