China has officially commissioned its newest and most advanced aircraft carrier, the Fujian, marking a major milestone in President Xi Jinping’s drive to build a “world-class” navy capable of projecting power far beyond its shores.
Xi boarded the Fujian for an inspection in the southern port city of Sanya, Hainan province, on Wednesday, state media reported Friday. More than 2,000 naval personnel and shipbuilders attended the commissioning ceremony.
The Fujian — China’s third carrier but the first fully designed and built at home, represents a leap in technology over its predecessors, the Liaoning and Shandong. It features a flat deck and electromagnetic catapults like those on the latest US Ford-class carriers, enabling it to launch heavier, more capable aircraft, including the new J-35 stealth fighter and KJ-600 early-warning plane tested during trials.
Analysts say the Fujian’s addition will accelerate Beijing’s efforts to project influence across the Pacific and Indian Oceans. The ship’s entry into service underscores Xi’s goal to modernise China’s military by 2035, and to rival the United States by 2050.
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