China's largest, most advanced aircraft carrier hits sea in final test
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China's state media says Fujian's sea trials will primarily test the reliability and stability of the aircraft carrier's propulsion and electrical systems.
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China's third aircraft carrier, the Fujian, docks in East China's Shanghai on April 30, 2024. (Xinhua)
China's most advanced aircraft carrier commenced its maiden sea trials on Wednesday in a landmark event as the country continues to boost its naval capabilities amid growing US-led militarization in the South China Sea.
The Fujian, China's third and largest aircraft carrier, launched in June 2022, is equipped with cutting-edge electromagnetic launch tracks that can catapult a wider range of aircraft.
"The sea trials will primarily test the reliability and stability of the aircraft carrier's propulsion and electrical systems," state media Xinhua reported. Since its launch, Fujian "has completed its mooring trials, outfitting work and equipment adjustments," and "met the technical requirements" for conducting the trials.
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'World-class'
China has described the Fujian as "one of the most important" components of its military arsenal, which aligns with President Xi Jinping's objective of establishing a "world-class" military force by the mid-21st century.
Upon entering service, it will become the only other aircraft carrier globally, aside from the US Navy's Ford-class nuclear-powered carriers, to possess such advanced technology. Additionally, the Pentagon stated in its annual report on Chinese military capabilities last year that the Fujian will have the capacity to deploy approximately 70 aircraft, including J-15 fighters and Z-9C anti-submarine helicopters.
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The massive vessel will have a displacement of more than 80,000 metric tons once it is completed, making it "the largest and mightiest warship any Asian nation has ever built, as well as the world's biggest non-American aircraft carrier," Xinhua added.
In Taiwan, some experts have labeled the Fujian as "a major maritime threat."
Taiwan's Defense Ministry stated in its annual report last year that the carrier would enhance China's capacity to encircle the island, potentially obstructing or delaying the ability of the US military and its allies to provide assistance to Taipei in case of a Chinese offensive.
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Fourth carrier 'soon'
Chinese aircraft carriers still encounter numerous obstacles, as some point out a notable disparity between the level of the crews' training and the demands of combat operations.
"In a combat situation involving opposing U.S. naval and air forces, Chinese aircraft carriers would be highly vulnerable," the US Congressional Research Service said in a January report.
Rather, the Fujian and China's two other carriers "could be particularly valuable to China for projecting an image of China as a major world power," since they "are viewed by many as symbols of major world power status," the report said.
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According to the Pentagon, the Liaoning, China's second-largest carrier, is expected to be officially commissioned later this year, following the completion of 10 sea trials before being deployed for active duty. Similarly, the Shandong underwent nine sea trials before it was formally commissioned.
In March, Yuan Huazhi, the political commissar of the Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy, stated that China will reveal its fourth aircraft carrier in the near future, while speculations suggest it might be nuclear-powered.
