China’s most sophisticated aircraft carrier, the Fujian, has entered operational service following a formal commissioning ceremony presided over by Chinese leader Xi Jinping, according to state media reports.
The Fujian, representing China’s third aircraft carrier, features electromagnetic catapult systems that enable aircraft launches at elevated speeds compared to conventional methods.
The vessel’s activation into active duty marks substantial progress for Beijing, which now operates the world’s largest navy measured by total ship count.
China has expanded its naval forces at remarkable velocity under Xi’s leadership, creating pressure on the United States and allied nations to maintain competitive capabilities.
The Fujian can deploy three distinct aircraft types using its electromagnetic catapult system and flat flight deck design, state media reported.
The domestically constructed vessel accommodates aircraft carrying heavier weapons and fuel loads, extending their operational range for engaging enemy targets at greater distances. This capability makes the Fujian more formidable than China’s initial two carriers, the Liaoning and Shandong.
State media characterised the Fujian as a “major milestone” in Chinese naval development.
The United States remains the only other nation operating an aircraft carrier equipped with comparable electromagnetic catapult technology.
The commissioning ceremony occurred in southern Hainan province on Wednesday, during which Xi toured the ship’s deck whilst receiving briefings about its sea trial performance.
State media reports credited Xi with personally directing the decision to adopt electromagnetic catapult technology for the vessel.
The accounts also described Xi addressing sailors assembled along the flight deck and dock, who saluted whilst chanting in unison: “Follow the party’s command, fight to win, and uphold fine conduct!”
The Fujian’s entry into service represents a significant moment in the evolving naval balance between China and the United States, two powers whose maritime capabilities increasingly define strategic calculations across the Indo-Pacific region. The electromagnetic catapult system, known as EMALS (Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System), offers substantial advantages over older steam catapult designs or ski-jump ramps featured on earlier Chinese carriers.
Electromagnetic catapults provide smoother acceleration profiles that reduce stress on aircraft airframes whilst enabling launches of heavier planes. The technology also requires less maintenance than steam systems and offers greater flexibility in adjusting launch forces for different aircraft types and weights. These operational advantages translate into higher sortie rates and expanded mission capabilities.
The Fujian’s flat deck design, combined with electromagnetic catapults, brings China’s carrier capabilities closer to parity with American supercarriers. The Liaoning, acquired from Ukraine and refurbished, uses a ski-jump ramp that limits aircraft payload capacities. The Shandong, China’s first domestically built carrier, similarly employs a ski-jump configuration. The Fujian’s catapult system eliminates these constraints.
The ability to launch aircraft with heavier fuel and weapons loads extends the operational radius of carrier air wings. Fighters can reach targets farther from the carrier’s position or maintain station longer during combat air patrols. Larger fuel reserves provide flexibility for mission planning and create margins for contingencies.
China’s naval expansion under Xi Jinping has proceeded at a pace unprecedented in modern times. The People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) has commissioned multiple destroyers, frigates, corvettes, submarines and amphibious warfare ships annually, rapidly expanding both quantity and quality. This buildup reflects China’s strategic priorities including protecting sea lanes, projecting power regionally, and preparing for potential Taiwan contingencies.
The world’s largest navy designation, whilst accurate by ship count, requires contextualisation. The United States Navy operates eleven aircraft carriers compared to China’s three, and American vessels generally exceed Chinese counterparts in displacement and capabilities. Quality versus quantity comparisons involve complex assessments of technology, training, operational experience, and logistics.
However, raw numbers matter in naval warfare. Larger fleets can distribute across multiple theatres simultaneously, maintain higher operational tempos, and absorb losses whilst sustaining combat effectiveness. China’s numerical advantage holds particular significance in its near seas where geographic proximity provides support advantages.
The pressure on the United States and allies to “keep up” reflects concerns about shifting power balances. American naval expansion faces budgetary constraints, shipbuilding industrial base limitations, and competing resource demands. Maintaining technological superiority requires sustained investment in research, development, and procurement.
Allied naval forces including Japan, Australia, South Korea, and others contribute to the regional balance. Japan operates helicopter carriers being modified for F-35B operations, Australia is acquiring nuclear submarines, and South Korea builds sophisticated surface combatants. These capabilities collectively counterbalance Chinese expansion, though coordination challenges persist.
The ceremony’s location in Hainan province holds strategic significance. Hainan hosts major naval facilities including submarine bases and the Yulin Naval Base, which accommodates large surface combatants. The island’s southern position provides access to the South China Sea, a body of water where China asserts extensive territorial claims contested by neighbouring nations and the United States.
Xi Jinping’s personal involvement in the commissioning underscores the political importance attached to naval modernisation. His reported role in selecting electromagnetic catapult technology, whether literally accurate or propagandistic embellishment, positions him as the architect of military advancement. Chinese political culture emphasises leadership roles in major achievements.
The sailors’ choreographed response, chanting loyalty to party command, reflects the civil-military relationship in China where the People’s Liberation Army serves the Communist Party rather than the state abstractly. This political allegiance structure differs from Western military traditions emphasising apolitical professionalism.
The “fight to win” exhortation references Chinese military doctrine emphasising combat readiness and confidence in victory. This rhetoric appears frequently in military contexts, reinforcing messages about preparation for potential conflicts including scenarios involving Taiwan.
The commissioning’s timing, following extended sea trials validating systems and training crews, suggests the Fujian achieved operational readiness standards. Modern carriers require years of testing before entering service given their complexity. The vessel likely faces additional work-up periods before achieving full operational capability.
Future developments may include additional carriers using similar or more advanced technologies. Chinese naval planning reportedly envisions operating multiple carrier battle groups simultaneously, requiring continued construction. Fourth and potentially fifth carriers may already be under development.
