China launches sea trial of its largest-ever aircraft carrier
State media announced on Wednesday that China has initiated sea trials for its third and most technologically advanced aircraft carrier, the Fujian.
This milestone comes nearly two years after the unveiling of the aircraft carrier in June 2022, marking a significant advancement in China's naval capabilities.
Designed and constructed entirely domestically, the Fujian surpasses its predecessors, the Shandong, commissioned in late 2019, and the Liaoning, acquired second-hand from Ukraine in 1998.
The development of the Fujian is a crucial component of President Xi Jinping's vision to elevate China to the status of a dominant military power in the region. This ambition includes the establishment of a "blue-water" navy capable of exerting influence far beyond China's shores.
Featuring a spacious, flat flight deck equipped with an advanced catapult-launch system for jets, the Fujian derives its name from the Chinese province situated opposite Taiwan, a democratic state.
Previously stationed at Shanghai's Jiangnan Shipyard, where it underwent rigorous testing, the Fujian's sea trials mark the final phase before its formal integration into China's naval fleet. This process is anticipated to span approximately a year, mirroring the timeline followed by the Shandong, which underwent nine sea trials before its commissioning.
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