China's Third Aircraft Carrier, the Fujian, Officially Enters Service Amidst Rising Regional Tensions

China's third and most advanced aircraft carrier, the Fujian, has officially entered service, marking a significant milestone in the nation's ambitious military modernization program. The commissioning ceremony for the Type 003 carrier took place on November 5, 2025, according to wikipedia, with President Xi Jinping reportedly in attendance. This event underscores Beijing's growing naval capabilities and its determination to project maritime power across the Indo-Pacific region.

The Fujian represents a substantial leap forward for the People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN), being China's first indigenously designed carrier and its largest warship to date. It is equipped with advanced electromagnetic catapults, a technology previously seen only on the U.S. Navy's Gerald R. Ford-class carriers, as reported by wikipedia and other sources.

This new carrier's entry into service comes at a time of heightened geopolitical sensitivities, particularly concerning ongoing territorial disputes in the South China Sea and escalating tensions with Taiwan. Its deployment is seen by many international observers as a clear signal of China's intent to assert greater influence in these contested waters, according to analyses from Focus Taiwan and Newsweek.

The Fujian, with an estimated full load displacement of 80,000 to 85,000 tons, significantly enhances the PLAN's ability to conduct sustained air operations far from its shores. This capability allows for the launch of heavier and more diverse aircraft, including advanced fighter jets and early warning aircraft, as detailed by ChinaPower Project.

Prior to its official entry into service, the Fujian underwent extensive sea trials, including a notable transit through the Taiwan Strait in September 2025. Reuters and Naval Technology reported this passage as part of "scientific research tests and training missions" in the South China Sea, drawing close scrutiny from regional defense ministries.

Experts like Robert Farley from the U.S. Army War College previously noted that the Fujian would be the "largest and most advanced aircraft carrier ever built outside the United States." Its operational status solidifies China's position as a formidable naval power, challenging existing maritime dynamics, as highlighted by Sustainability Times.

The commissioning of the Fujian ushers in a "three-aircraft-carrier era" for China, a significant step towards its long-term goal of developing a true blue-water navy. This expansion is part of a broader naval modernization effort that aims to grow the PLAN's battle force to 395 ships by 2025 and 435 by 2030, according to reports to Congress on Chinese Naval Modernization.

• Historical Context of China's Carrier Program: China's journey to operating advanced aircraft carriers began decades ago, initially through acquiring and studying decommissioned foreign vessels. The first operational carrier, the Liaoning (Type 001), was a refurbished Soviet-era ship commissioned in 2012, followed by the first domestically built Shandong (Type 002) in 2019, as detailed by Wikipedia and USNI News. The Fujian marks a departure from these earlier ski-jump designs, representing a fully indigenous and technologically advanced platform.

• Advanced Technical Specifications: The Fujian (Type 003) is a conventionally powered carrier measuring approximately 316 meters in length and displacing between 80,000 and 85,000 tons at full load, making it comparable in size to the U.S. Navy's Kitty Hawk-class carriers, according to Naval Technology. Its most significant feature is the Catapult-Assisted Take-Off But Arrested Recovery (CATOBAR) system, which includes three electromagnetic catapults (EMALS). This system allows for the launch of heavier aircraft with greater fuel and weapons loads, significantly enhancing its operational flexibility compared to previous Chinese carriers, as explained by ChinaPower Project and The Diplomat.

• Strategic Implications for the Indo-Pacific: The deployment of the Fujian significantly bolsters China's power projection capabilities, particularly in the Indo-Pacific. Analysts suggest its presence could be leveraged against the United States and its allies, potentially complicating regional security dynamics, according to Focus Taiwan. The carrier's ability to operate a robust air wing, including stealth fighters like the J-35 and early warning aircraft, extends China's defensive and strike reach, impacting the strategic balance in critical waterways such as the South China Sea and the Western Pacific, as reported by army Recognition and Naval Technology.

• Impact on Taiwan Tensions: The Fujian's operational status presents new challenges for Taiwan's defense planners. Its ability to project sustained air and sea power closer to Taiwan's shores complicates air defense and naval interdiction strategies, according to army Recognition. The carrier's transit through the Taiwan Strait during its sea trials in September 2025 was closely monitored by Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense and Japan's Ministry of Defense, underscoring the heightened sensitivity of the region, as noted by Reuters and Newsweek.

• Comparison with Global Naval Powers: While the Fujian is a major advancement, it remains conventionally powered, unlike all U.S. Navy supercarriers which are nuclear-powered, as highlighted by ChinaPower Project. However, its EMALS technology places China among a very small group of nations with such advanced launch systems. The Fujian's capacity for over 60 aircraft, including multi-role fighters and stealth jets, allows it to rival some of the world's most powerful carriers, demonstrating China's rapid and economical production capabilities, according to youtube analysis.

• Future Developments in China's Carrier Program: China's naval ambitions extend beyond the Fujian. Reports indicate that a fourth aircraft carrier, potentially nuclear-powered and even larger, is already under construction, as mentioned by Wikipedia and ChinaPower Project. Naval experts have projected that China could possess five or six aircraft carriers by the 2030s, further solidifying its status as a major global naval power, according to wikipedia. This continuous expansion underscores China's long-term strategy to enhance its blue-water navy capabilities and global influence.