China Unveils Its Most Advanced Aircraft Carrier Fujian in Show of Naval Power

China has officially launched its most advanced aircraft carrier, Fujian, in what analysts are calling a bold statement of military ambition and a direct challenge to US naval dominance in the Asia-Pacific region.

The massive warship — China’s third aircraft carrier and the first fully designed and built domestically — entered service just days after a grand commissioning ceremony personally overseen by President Xi Jinping in Hainan Province.

State media described the Fujian as a “major milestone” in the modernization of the Chinese navy, which has now become the world’s largest by number of vessels.

Unlike its predecessors Liaoning and Shandong, both of which were adapted from Soviet designs, the Fujian boasts cutting-edge electromagnetic catapult launch systems, a technology previously used only by the United States. This feature enables aircraft to take off with greater speed, heavier payloads, and longer combat ranges — significantly boosting China’s power projection capabilities.

According to Chinese military sources, the Fujian can deploy up to three different types of aircraft simultaneously from its flat deck, including fighter jets and early-warning planes, giving Beijing a wider operational reach across the Indo-Pacific.

During the commissioning, President Xi reportedly toured the vessel’s deck and addressed the assembled sailors, who saluted in unison and declared their loyalty with the chant: “Follow the Party’s command, fight to win, and uphold fine conduct.”

Xi is said to have personally approved the use of electromagnetic catapult technology, underscoring his direct role in China’s ongoing military modernization campaign.

The unveiling of Fujian comes amid growing maritime tensions between Beijing and Washington, particularly over Taiwan and the South China Sea. With the Fujian now officially part of China’s naval fleet, analysts believe the global balance of naval power is entering a new era.