China’s 80,000-Tonne Third Aircraft Carrier Fujian Nears Commissioning

China’s third and most advanced aircraft carrier, the Fujian, is now close to being officially commissioned after successfully completing multiple rounds of tests and training. According to China’s Defence Ministry spokesperson Zhang Xiaogang, the operationalisation of Fujian is “not far off,” marking a new milestone in the modernization of the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN).

The Fujian has been conducting extensive sea trials since its launch in June 2022, and recent exercises have confirmed that it has achieved full electromagnetic catapult launch and recovery capabilities. This breakthrough allows carrier-based aircraft such as the J-15T, the fifth-generation J-35 stealth fighter, and the KongJing-600 early warning aircraft to conduct catapult-assisted take-offs and arrested landings. These aircraft are considered the backbone of China’s future carrier strike groups.

Unlike China’s first two carriers – the Liaoning and Shandong, which use ski-jump decks – the Fujian features a flat flight deck similar to U.S. supercarriers. With a full-load displacement of over 80,000 tonnes, it is the largest warship ever built by China. The highlight of Fujian is its Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System (EMALS), a cutting-edge technology also deployed on the U.S. Navy’s USS Gerald R. Ford. EMALS allows faster, smoother, and more efficient aircraft launches compared to traditional steam catapults, enabling China to operate more advanced and heavier aircraft from its deck.

With nearly three years of trials completed, China is preparing to operationalise Fujian within 2025. Once commissioned, China will for the first time operate three carrier groups simultaneously, significantly boosting its naval reach.

Strategic Implications

The deployment of Fujian has already drawn attention due to its trial voyages in the Taiwan Strait and the South China Sea, both regions of heightened geopolitical tensions. China continues to claim Taiwan as part of its territory and asserts sovereignty over nearly all of the South China Sea, contested by countries like the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei, and Taiwan itself.

Analysts believe that with Fujian entering service, China could extend its carrier deployments into the Indian Ocean Region (IOR). The PLAN already maintains a naval presence through bases in Djibouti and access to Gwadar in Pakistan and Hambantota in Sri Lanka. This expansion raises concerns for countries like India, which closely monitors Chinese naval movements in the IOR.

China’s Growing Naval Power

According to recent assessments, China now has the largest navy in the world, with around 234 warships, compared to the U.S. Navy’s 219. Beijing’s long-term naval strategy reportedly includes building four to five aircraft carriers, including a nuclear-powered carrier. Such a fleet would allow the PLAN to maintain permanent deployments across multiple theaters, enhancing China’s influence not just in East Asia, but also across the Pacific and Indian Oceans.

Experts view the Fujian as a symbol of China’s rising maritime power and a clear message to rivals that Beijing intends to project its military strength globally. With its commissioning, China will not only challenge U.S. naval dominance in the Indo-Pacific but also reshape the balance of power in Asia’s waters.