According to a report by the South China Morning Post on August 23, 2025, China’s newest and most advanced aircraft carrier, the Fujian, is expected to be officially commissioned next month. The ceremony is likely to coincide with the September 3 Victory Day parade in Beijing, marking the 80th anniversary of Japan’s defeat in World War II. Footage released by state broadcaster CCTV indicated that the event could serve as the debut of the vessel.
Designated Type 003, the Fujian represents a major milestone for the People’s Liberation Army Navy as the country’s first carrier equipped with electromagnetic catapults (CATOBAR). Unlike the ski-jump designs of Liaoning and Shandong, this system enables the launch of heavier and more advanced aircraft, including J-15T fighter jets and KJ-600 airborne early warning aircraft.
Launched in June 2022 at the Jiangnan Shipyard in Shanghai, Fujian has already completed more than eight sea trials, ranging from propulsion tests to simulated flight operations. Recent satellite imagery and CCTV reports confirmed the vessel’s preparations for full aviation capability.
Analysts emphasize that Fujian’s commissioning will mark China’s emergence as a true three-carrier navy, greatly enhancing its ability to sustain long-range operations across the Pacific and Indian Oceans. With integrated early warning and electronic warfare capabilities, the ship will significantly shift the regional balance of power.
Displacing between 80,000 and 85,000 tons and measuring around 316 meters in length, the Fujian is powered by a conventional propulsion system but remains capable of supporting electromagnetic launch technology. This makes China the only nation after the United States to field a CATOBAR carrier.
Once in service, Fujian will allow the PLAN to maintain a continuous cycle of training, deployment, and maintenance, ensuring that at least one carrier strike group remains combat-ready—closely mirroring the U.S. Navy’s long-practiced doctrine.
For Japan, which is upgrading its Izumo-class carriers to operate F-35Bs, and for Taiwan, which faces an increasingly complex security environment, Fujian presents new strategic challenges. On a global scale, its commissioning confirms China’s transition into a blue-water navy, compelling NATO and European navies to reassess their own maritime strategies in light of Beijing’s growing reach.
