China has formally commissioned its newest and most advanced aircraft carrier, the Fujian, marking a pivotal milestone in Beijing’s drive to expand its naval power and project military influence beyond its regional waters. State media confirmed that the commissioning ceremony took place on Wednesday at the Yulin Naval Base on Hainan Island, in the presence of Chinese President Xi Jinping.
The Fujian is China’s third aircraft carrier but the first to be entirely designed and constructed domestically, symbolising the growing sophistication of China’s defense industry. It is a key component of Xi’s sweeping military modernization program, which aims to transform the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) into a “world-class” force by mid-century—capable of matching, and potentially rivaling, the U.S. military in strategic reach and technology.
With the addition of the Fujian, China’s navy—already the world’s largest by number of vessels—has taken another step toward building a true “blue-water” fleet. This will allow Beijing to operate farther from its shores, sustain long-term missions, and challenge U.S. maritime dominance in the Indo-Pacific region.
Analysts say the new carrier is central to China’s ambition of asserting control over the First Island Chain—comprising Japan, Taiwan, and the Philippines—and extending its operational influence to the Second Island Chain, where key U.S. military installations are based on Guam. “Carriers are key to China’s leadership vision of being a great power with global reach,” said Greg Poling of the Center for Strategic and International Studies. “The Fujian represents a major leap toward that vision.”
Unlike China’s previous carriers—the Liaoning (a refurbished Soviet ship) and the Shandong (based on a Soviet design)—the Fujian uses an advanced electromagnetic catapult launch system, similar to the U.S. Navy’s latest Ford-class carriers. This technology allows for more efficient and flexible aircraft launches, enabling heavier planes such as the KJ-600 early-warning aircraft and the J-35 stealth fighter to operate with full fuel and weapons loads.
This advancement effectively transforms Fujian into China’s first carrier capable of true power projection far from home waters. The carrier successfully completed its final sea trials earlier this year, testing the electromagnetic launch systems and flight operations involving next-generation aircraft.
However, despite its technical achievements, China’s navy still lags behind the United States in several areas. The U.S. operates 11 nuclear-powered aircraft carriers that can remain at sea indefinitely without refueling, whereas China’s carriers are conventionally powered and therefore have limited range. Washington also maintains a global network of military bases that provide logistical and operational support—something Beijing has yet to replicate.
Nonetheless, the pace of China’s naval buildup has been unprecedented. Shipyards in Shanghai and Dalian are simultaneously producing advanced destroyers, submarines, and support ships, suggesting that a fourth carrier may already be under construction. Experts like Brian Hart of the China Power Project note that “China is closing the gap in every domain—carrier capability, missile systems, and surface warfare.”
The Fujian commissioning has significant geopolitical implications. Its ability to deploy carrier strike groups deep into the Pacific could allow China to monitor and potentially disrupt U.S. and allied movements in a conflict scenario, especially over Taiwan. By operating near the Second Island Chain, Beijing could complicate U.S. reinforcement routes between Hawaii and East Asia, a critical element of America’s deterrence strategy.
Beyond military strategy, Fujian also serves as a powerful symbol of national pride. Chinese state television aired footage of the carrier’s flight deck operations, highlighting the J-35 stealth fighters and the KJ-600 surveillance aircraft. The move reflects Xi Jinping’s broader goal of projecting China’s resurgence as a maritime power capable of defending its global interests.
Still, analysts caution that showcasing advanced technology does not equate to operational readiness. “China’s forces are modernizing rapidly, but they remain untested in combat,” said Singapore-based defense analyst Tang Meng Kit. “The Fujian enhances perception of power, but turning it into a fully functional and combat-ready asset will take years of training, coordination, and logistical experience.”
For now, China’s commissioning of the Fujian stands as both a technological triumph and a strategic signal—an unmistakable message to Washington and its Indo-Pacific allies that Beijing is determined to reshape the region’s balance of power on its own terms.
