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The Dragon's Steel Tide

Saturday, 08 November 2025 01:37

Summary

The commissioning of the Fujian, China's third and most advanced aircraft carrier, marks a pivotal moment in the nation's ambitious naval expansion. Entering service on 5 November 2025, the vessel represents a significant technological leap, featuring an electromagnetic catapult system previously only operational on the newest American carriers. This allows for the launch of heavier, more capable aircraft, fundamentally altering the potential reach and power of the People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN). While the Fujian still relies on conventional propulsion, unlike its nuclear-powered US counterparts, its introduction signals a clear intent to challenge long-standing American maritime dominance in the Indo-Pacific. The vessel is a core component of President Xi Jinping's goal to build a 'world-class' military, capable of projecting power far beyond China's immediate shores. Its deployment is set to intensify strategic competition in contested waters like the South China Sea and around Taiwan, compelling regional powers and the United States to reassess the shifting balance of naval strength.

A New Era on the High Seas

On 5 November 2025, China's third and most technologically advanced aircraft carrier, the Fujian, officially entered active service.2 The commissioning ceremony, held at the Sanya naval base on Hainan island, was attended by President Xi Jinping, a clear signal of the vessel's strategic importance in the nation's military modernisation.2,4 The Fujian, named after the coastal province opposite Taiwan, represents a significant milestone in the People's Liberation Army Navy's (PLAN) ambition to transform into a 'blue water' force, capable of projecting power far beyond its own shores.2,28 This development is a key element of Xi's long-running effort to overhaul the Chinese military, with the stated goal of creating a 'world-class' force by the middle of the century.3,9,13 The vessel's entry into service places China second only to the United States in the number of active aircraft carriers, ahead of the United Kingdom, India, and Italy, who each operate two.3,9 The United States Navy currently maintains a fleet of eleven carriers.2,3

From Soviet Hulls to Indigenous Supercarriers

China's journey to becoming a carrier power has been a long and methodical process.19 The ambition dates back decades, with early efforts focused on acquiring and studying retired foreign vessels.19,30 In 1985, China acquired the decommissioned Australian aircraft carrier HMAS Melbourne, which provided invaluable insights into carrier construction and operation.19,30 This was followed by the purchase of three ex-Soviet vessels, the Minsk, the Kiev, and, most importantly, the unfinished Kuznetsov-class carrier Varyag.19,30 After an extensive refit, the Varyag was commissioned in September 2012 as the Liaoning, China's first operational aircraft carrier.5,19 The experience gained from the Liaoning project was foundational, leading to the construction of China's first domestically produced carrier, the Shandong.5,19 Launched in 2017 and commissioned in 2019, the Shandong was largely based on the Liaoning's Soviet design, featuring a ski-jump ramp for launching aircraft.5,19 The Fujian, however, is a departure from these earlier efforts.10 It is China's first carrier to be wholly designed and built indigenously, representing a new generation of naval capability.3,13 Construction began at Shanghai's Jiangnan Shipyard in 2017, and the vessel was launched in June 2022.12,15,24 The period from its launch to commissioning involved numerous sea trials, beginning in May 2024, to test its systems and performance.2,6

A Technological Leap Forward

The most significant advancement of the Fujian is its aircraft launch system.14 Unlike the Liaoning and Shandong, which use a Short Take-Off But Arrested Recovery (STOBAR) system with a ski-jump ramp, the Fujian employs a Catapult-Assisted Take-Off But Arrested Recovery (CATOBAR) configuration.12,15 Crucially, it has leapfrogged steam-powered catapults, a technology used on most US carriers, and is equipped with an advanced electromagnetic aircraft launch system (EMALS).3,7,15 This makes China only the second country in the world, after the United States, to operate a carrier with this technology, which is currently found only on the latest Ford-class carriers.4,7,8 The electromagnetic system offers several advantages over older technologies.17 It allows for more precise control over launch speed, causes less stress on aircraft airframes, and can launch a wider variety of aircraft, from lightweight drones to heavier, fully-loaded warplanes.3,11,17 This capability is critical for deploying larger support aircraft, such as the KJ-600 airborne early warning and control plane, which cannot be launched from a ski-jump.3,7 The ability to launch these heavier aircraft extends the carrier's operational reach, as it no longer has to rely solely on land-based reconnaissance to detect threats.11 Chinese state media has reported that the Fujian's EMALS, which uses a medium-voltage direct current system, is more reliable than the alternating current system on the USS Gerald R. Ford.6,17 Reports also suggest the Fujian can achieve higher launch rates than US Nimitz-class carriers.6 During trials, the Fujian successfully launched several aircraft types, including the new J-35 stealth fighter, the J-15T heavy fighter, and the KJ-600, demonstrating its full-deck operational capability.3,6,12

Dimensions of Power

With a full-load displacement of over 80,000 tonnes and a length of 316 metres, the Fujian is the largest warship ever built by an Asian nation.2,8,15,24 While significantly larger than its predecessors, the Liaoning and Shandong, and European carriers like the UK's HMS Queen Elizabeth, it remains smaller than the American Nimitz and Ford-class supercarriers, which displace over 100,000 tonnes.2,9,11,15 The Fujian's air wing is estimated to be between 40 and 60 aircraft, slightly less than the 60 to 70 planes carried by its US counterparts.9,11 A key distinction, however, lies in its propulsion.15 The Fujian is conventionally powered by steam turbines, which limits its operational range and endurance compared to the nuclear-powered fleets of the United States and France.10,11,26 Nuclear-powered carriers have virtually unlimited range and do not require frequent refuelling, a significant logistical constraint for conventionally powered vessels operating far from home ports.11,26 China is reportedly working on developing nuclear propulsion for a future fourth carrier, which would represent another major step in its naval ambitions.19,26,30

Shifting Tides in the Indo-Pacific

The commissioning of the Fujian is a clear statement of China's intent to reshape the strategic landscape of the Indo-Pacific.27,28 For decades, the region's waters have been dominated by the US Navy.31 China's rapidly expanding naval power, now spearheaded by a third, highly capable carrier, directly challenges this status quo.2,13 The People's Liberation Army Navy is already the world's largest by number of ships, and the Fujian adds a new dimension of power projection to this fleet.2,3,22 The carrier's primary strategic value lies in its ability to extend China's defensive perimeter and operational reach.5,36 Chinese naval strategy has evolved from a focus on 'near seas defence' to include 'far seas protection', safeguarding the nation's growing global interests, including vital sea lines of communication.29 An operational three-carrier force would allow the PLAN to maintain a persistent presence in key areas, theoretically enabling one carrier to be on patrol, one in training, and one undergoing maintenance.18 This enhanced capability is particularly significant in the context of China's territorial claims in the South China Sea and its stance on Taiwan.28,31,32 A carrier strike group led by the Fujian could be used to enforce these claims, intimidate regional rivals, and complicate any potential US military intervention in a conflict over Taiwan.18,31,36 The development has been met with concern by regional powers.7 Japan has warned that China is rapidly strengthening its military power without transparency, while other nations in the region are also bolstering their own naval capabilities in response.7,12

The Long Voyage Ahead

Despite the Fujian's impressive technological advancements, China faces significant hurdles in becoming a truly global carrier power.13 The most substantial of these is a lack of operational experience.16 The US Navy has over a century of experience in complex carrier operations, including sustained 24-hour flight cycles, night landings, and operations in adverse weather conditions.16 These are skills that can only be developed over time through rigorous training and real-world deployments.16 Furthermore, operating a carrier strike group effectively requires a sophisticated ecosystem of support vessels, including guided-missile cruisers, destroyers, and submarines for protection, particularly against submarine and missile threats.13,16 While China's shipbuilding industry is working at an unrivalled pace, analysts note that the PLAN is still developing its proficiency in these crucial protective screening operations.3,16 The reliance on conventional power also remains a key limitation for blue-water operations far from China's shores.26 Without a global network of naval bases comparable to that of the United States, long-range deployments will depend heavily on a vulnerable chain of replenishment ships.23,26 Nevertheless, the Fujian's entry into service is a transformative event.24 It provides the PLAN with a platform to develop the doctrines, train the personnel, and gain the experience necessary for modern carrier operations, setting the standard for a future fleet that may one day include nuclear-powered supercarriers.28

Conclusion

The commissioning of the Fujian is more than the launch of a single ship; it is a potent symbol of a shifting global power dynamic.29 It embodies China's ambition to become a premier maritime power, capable of defending its interests and projecting influence across the Indo-Pacific and beyond.13,31 The vessel's advanced electromagnetic catapults represent a significant narrowing of the technological gap with the United States, enabling China to deploy a more formidable and versatile carrier air wing.6,7 While the PLAN still faces a long and challenging journey to match the experience and global reach of the US Navy, the rapid pace of its modernisation cannot be ignored.16,20,25 The Fujian's steel deck is the new stage upon which the strategic competition of the 21st century will increasingly be played out, forcing a recalculation of naval power in a region of critical importance to global stability and trade.35 The dragon's tide is rising, and the waters of the Pacific are unlikely to remain calm.

References

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    This source was used to establish the current date for the article's context, although not directly cited, it informs the temporal setting.

  2. China's largest aircraft carrier enters service in key milestone for its naval ambitions

    Provides the core facts of the Fujian's commissioning, including the date, location, attendance of Xi Jinping, and its strategic goal of becoming a 'blue water' navy. It also offers a comparison of its size to US carriers and details on China's existing carriers.

  3. China's latest aircraft carrier enters service to extend reach into high seas - The Guardian

    Confirms the Fujian's entry into service, its status as the first domestically designed and built carrier, and details on its advanced electromagnetic launch system. It also compares China's carrier count to other nations and lists the aircraft it can launch.

  4. China's most advanced aircraft carrier, the Fujian, enters service

    Reports on the commissioning ceremony, President Xi Jinping's attendance and inspection of the carrier, and confirms that the Fujian makes China the second country to field a carrier with electromagnetic catapults.

  5. China's Domestic Aircraft Carrier Program: Modernization and Challenges - Air University

    Provides historical context on China's aircraft carrier program, including the commissioning of the Liaoning and Shandong. It also discusses the strategic objectives behind the program, such as overcoming geographic limits and asserting maritime claims.

  6. China commissions Fujian aircraft carrier with catapult technology superior to U.S. system

    Details the technological aspects of the Fujian's electromagnetic catapult system, claiming its reliability is superior to the US equivalent. It also provides information on the aircraft tested from the carrier and its launch rate capabilities.

  7. China's Newest Aircraft Carrier Enters Service as Japan Watches Warily - FDD

    Highlights the technological shift from ski-jumps to electromagnetic catapults, the capability to launch heavier aircraft like the KJ-600, and the geopolitical reaction from Japan.

  8. Chinese aircraft carrier Fujian - Wikipedia

    Provides specific technical details about the Fujian, including its displacement, dimensions, propulsion type, and the composition of its estimated air wing.

  9. Fujian, China's most advanced aircraft carrier, rivaling US Ford-class floating airfields, enters service; check its features and deadly arsenal - The Economic Times

    Supports the article's points on the Fujian's role in China's naval expansion, its comparison to US carriers in size and aircraft capacity, and its contribution to Xi Jinping's military modernization goals.

  10. CNS Fujian (Type-003) Conventionally-Powered Aircraft Carrier - Military Factory

    Provides details on the Fujian's dimensions and its conventional power source, contrasting it with nuclear-powered American carriers and noting its design departure from previous Chinese carriers.

  11. What to know about China's newest aircraft carrier, the Fujian, ETTravelWorld

    Offers a comparative analysis of the Fujian with US carriers, detailing differences in size, aircraft capacity, and propulsion. It explains the operational advantages of the electromagnetic catapult system.

  12. China Commissions 3rd Aircraft Carrier Fujian - USNI News

    Confirms the commissioning details, the ship's construction timeline, and the technological shift to a CATOBAR system. It also lists the advanced aircraft showcased on its deck and notes the regional naval aviation push.

  13. Beijing Commissions Its Third Aircraft Carrier, the First Fully Manufactured in China

    Describes the Fujian as a pivotal moment in China's military modernization and its first entirely domestically designed carrier. It discusses the strategic implications for contesting maritime dominance and the remaining challenges for China's navy.

  14. FW-MAG Future Warfare Magazine - China: the FUJIAN aircraft carrier enters service - the first equipped with EMALS electromagnetic catapults

    Focuses on the EMALS technology as the most significant innovation on the Fujian, enabling the launch of heavy aircraft and making the PLAN the second navy to operate such a system. It also lists the aircraft in the Fujian's air wing.

  15. How Advanced Is China's Third Aircraft Carrier? - ChinaPower Project

    Provides a detailed comparison of the Fujian with its predecessors and other international carriers, focusing on displacement, size, and launch systems. It confirms the carrier is conventionally powered.

  16. '100-Year Experience Gap' Separates China's New Fleet of Aircraft Carriers and U.S. Navy

    Outlines the significant operational challenges China faces, including the vast experience gap with the US Navy, difficulties in sustained air operations, and the need to perfect protective screening for its carrier groups.

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    Traces the evolution of China's naval strategy from coastal defense to a blue-water navy, highlighting the PLAN's significant expansion and modernization, making it the world's largest by ship count.

  23. What are some issues or challenges associated with Chinese aircraft carriers? - Quora

    This source points to the logistical challenges faced by the PLAN, particularly the lack of a global network of foreign bases, which constrains the operational range of its conventionally powered carriers.

  24. The Aircraft Carrier Fujian - ICAS - Institute for China-America Studies

    Describes the Fujian as a 'generational leap' in China's naval capabilities, detailing its CATOBAR system, large displacement, and the operational advantages it provides over previous ski-jump carriers.

  25. China's naval plans propel $1.4trn PLA modernisation over 2024-2028

    Provides financial context for China's naval expansion, highlighting the significant investment in military modernization as part of a broader strategic vision to build a formidable blue-water navy.

  26. China's Nuclear-Powered Aircraft Carrier Challenges US Dominance in Pacific Ocean - Army Recognition

    Explains the limitations of conventional propulsion for long-range power projection and discusses China's ambitions to develop nuclear-powered carriers to overcome this obstacle and truly compete with the US Navy.

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    Characterizes the Fujian's launch as a pivotal moment, underscoring Beijing's ambition to project power across the Indo-Pacific and challenge US influence in the region.

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    Confirms the commissioning details and highlights the carrier's role in enhancing China's power projection capabilities in contested waters like the South China Sea and Taiwan Strait.

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    Provides context on the evolution of China's naval strategy from 'near sea active defence' to 'far sea protection' and frames the aircraft carrier program as a symbol of great power status and national rejuvenation.

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    This video source offers a narrative history of China's carrier program, from studying the HMAS Melbourne to the development of the Liaoning, Shandong, Fujian, and the planned nuclear-powered Type 004.

  31. In the Shadow of Giants: Assessing the Strategic Ambitions and Political Implications of the Chinese Aircraft Carrier

    Analyzes the strategic and political drivers behind China's investment in aircraft carriers, including national rejuvenation, regional intimidation, and enforcing maritime interests in the South China Sea.

  32. China Commissions the Most Advanced Aircraft Carrier in Its Navy's History - SFG Media

    Reports on the commissioning and highlights the Fujian's role in asserting military dominance in the western Pacific and as a tool of power projection, particularly in relation to Taiwan.

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    This source was reviewed for general context on the arms race dynamic between the US and China concerning aircraft carriers but did not provide unique facts that were cited in the final article.

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    This source was reviewed for context on the US political reaction to the EMALS technology but was not directly cited for specific facts in the article.

  35. "America Can't Match This": China's Fujian Aircraft Carrier Deployment Forces Pentagon To Admit Pacific Fleet Inferiority - Sustainability Times

    Provides context on the potential stationing of the Fujian in the South China Sea and the resulting strategic implications for regional power dynamics and international relations.

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    Discusses the potential use of the Fujian in a Taiwan scenario, specifically to deter or delay American assistance, and highlights its role in extending China's strategic perimeter.