November 7th, 2025 - China's New Aircraft Carrier Marks a Step Toward Expanding Naval Power

China’s latest aircraft carrier, the Fujian, officially entered service this week, marking a significant step forward in the country’s efforts to rival American naval power in the region. This advanced vessel features an electromagnetic catapult system, a cutting-edge technology designed to launch and land aircraft more efficiently than previous methods. The Fujian’s commissioning ceremony was attended by China’s top leader, Xi Jinping, who also personally oversaw the decision to implement this technology, which has been praised as a breakthrough in modern naval operations. The ship’s deployment comes as China continues to expand its military capabilities and assert dominance in the western Pacific.

The Fujian is China’s third aircraft carrier, following the Liaoning and the Shandong. While China’s carriers have traditionally lagged behind the United States in terms of both number and sophistication, the Fujian is seen as a major leap forward. It is the first Chinese carrier to approach the size and capability of American vessels, though China still operates diesel-powered ships, while the U.S. fleet is entirely nuclear-powered. Despite this gap, the Fujian's advanced features signal China’s ambitions to close the gap in naval power. Satellite imagery indicates that China is already in the process of constructing a fourth carrier, with plans to expand the fleet further, possibly transitioning to nuclear-powered ships in the future.

Although some analysts question the future role of aircraft carriers due to advancements in unmanned drones and precision missiles, experts argue that carriers will remain a vital component of naval power for the foreseeable future. Jiang Hsin-biao, a researcher at Taiwan's Institute for National Defense and Security Research, believes that while unmanned systems are growing, they will not replace aircraft carriers within the next decade. This perspective aligns with the continued development of new carriers in both China and the United States, suggesting that the strategic value of these ships remains significant for both sides.

For Xi Jinping, the commissioning of the Fujian offers a boost in the wake of recent scandals involving corruption within the People’s Liberation Army (PLA). The dismissal of nine senior officers, including one of the highest-ranking generals, has tarnished the image of China’s military leadership. The Fujian’s deployment serves as a political salve, helping to project strength and competence within the military, despite these internal challenges. The ship’s electromagnetic catapult system, which was modeled after the U.S. Navy’s Gerald R. Ford, is a symbol of China’s technological advancements, even as former President Donald Trump criticized the system’s reliability and advocated for returning to steam-powered launchers on American carriers.

The Fujian’s new technology is seen as a major upgrade over China’s earlier carriers, which relied on simpler ski-jump ramps for takeoff and landing. The electromagnetic catapult system could allow the Fujian to carry larger, more heavily armed aircraft and launch them more quickly and efficiently. This improvement could help China project power further into the Pacific, potentially using the Fujian as part of larger naval task forces to intimidate regional adversaries, particularly in the South China Sea. While aircraft carriers may not play a central role in any immediate conflict with Taiwan, experts speculate that China could eventually use them to enforce a blockade or tighten its control over the island.

The deployment of the Fujian coincides with rising tensions between China and Taiwan, which has resisted Beijing’s claims of sovereignty for years. While some analysts see the ship as part of a broader strategy to intimidate Taiwan and neighboring countries, it is still unclear how China will use these carriers in practice. Operating large carriers far from China’s coast and mastering the rapid deployment of aircraft will require further refinement. Chinese military media has already shown footage of aircraft practicing takeoffs and landings on the Fujian, signaling that the Navy is determined to quickly improve its carrier operations.

Despite these advancements, China’s carrier program is still in its infancy. Experts like Aita Moriki from Japan’s National Institute for Defense Studies caution that China faces significant technological and personnel challenges before it can fully mature as a carrier power. The Fujian may represent an important milestone, but China’s naval ambitions will depend on overcoming these hurdles and continuing to expand its fleet. As China works to improve its carrier capabilities, it is clear that it aims to become a formidable force in the Pacific, with the Fujian playing a central role in its naval strategy for years to come.

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