China’s most advanced aircraft carrier, the Fujian, has crossed the Taiwan Strait and sailed into the South China Sea to carry out a new round of sea trials and training exercises.
This marks one of the most notable stages in the vessel’s testing process since its launch in 2022. The Fujian is China’s third aircraft carrier, following the Liaoning and Shandong, but it has not yet been officially commissioned into full service.
The carrier’s journey signals China’s determination to expand its naval presence and improve its maritime combat readiness.
Unlike its predecessors, the Fujian is equipped with electromagnetic catapult technology, which allows aircraft to take off with heavier fuel loads and larger weapons payloads.
Analysts believe this capability will enable China’s air wing to operate more effectively over longer distances, giving the navy a greater ability to project power across the Pacific and beyond.
China’s navy stated that the voyage was part of the Fujian’s construction process and involved scientific research trials as well as routine training missions.
Officials emphasized that the operations were standard and not aimed at any specific country or target.
Taiwan’s Defense Ministry, however, confirmed it was actively monitoring the carrier’s movements throughout the strait.
The ministry reported using intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance systems to keep track of the Fujian and noted that appropriate response measures had been taken in line with defense requirements.
The introduction of the Fujian represents a major step in China’s naval modernization. The country’s first carrier, the Liaoning, was purchased from Ukraine in 1998 and refitted before entering service.
The Shandong, commissioned in 2019, was China’s first domestically built carrier.
The Fujian now serves as a testbed for advanced launch systems and a platform for larger air wings, suggesting that China is preparing to close the gap with established carrier powers such as the United States.
Regional observers see the ship’s trials as part of a wider strategy by Beijing to strengthen its influence in disputed waters, particularly around Taiwan and the South China Sea.
As the Fujian continues its testing, it is expected to play a central role in China’s goal of developing a true blue-water navy capable of sustained operations far from its shores.