PLA holds propulsion tests for Navy's third aircraft carrier Fujian
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The Chinese Navy holds propulsion tests for Fujian, a huge aircraft carrier, amid pledges from China to boost aircraft and aircraft carrier production.
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Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy sailors stand on the deck of the Qinzhou guided-missile frigate in Hong Kong, China, September 8, 2021 (AP)
China celebrated Sunday the 73rd anniversary of the founding of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy by releasing updates on the major development of the programs of the country's navy, including the trial progress of the PLA's third aircraft carrier.
Beijing pledged to build more aircraft carriers and develop more sophisticated warplanes while commissioning a 10,000-ton-class large destroyer.
The PLA has significantly increased its capabilities since the turn of the century, launching scores of advanced vessels including destroyers, frigates, submarines, aircraft carriers, amphibious ships, replenishment ships, and others at an astounding speed, the Global Times newspaper reported.
Simultaneously, Beijing has taken to training personnel for intensive far sea operations as it shifts its strategy from a coastal defense one to a deep-blue water one, which will see the PLA Navy developing its capabilities to provide far sea escorts in light of China's growing overseas interests.
The main security threats that China faces come from the Taiwan Straits, the South China Sea, and the East China Sea, especially in light of increasing US provocations that are seeing Washington sending warships and warplanes for reconnaissance operations, exercises, and transit, as well as its arming of Taiwan and regional countries in a bid to contain China.
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China strongly decried earlier in April the "illegal" intrusion of a US warship into waters it claims in the South China Sea shortly after the US Navy said its guided-missile destroyer the USS Milius had "sailed through the area."
"Missile destroyer USS Milius illegally intruded into the waters adjacent to the Meiji Reef in China's Nansha Islands without the approval of the Chinese government," Tian Junli, spokesperson for the Chinese military's Southern Theatre Command, said in a statement, adding Beijing's air force "followed and carried out surveillance of the vessel."
Concurrently, Beijing said fighter jets carrying "live ammunition" had conducted "simulated strikes" near Taiwan and that its Shandong aircraft carrier was involved in the drills.
Fujian, China's third aircraft carrier, was launched on June 17, 2022. It has successfully carried out propulsion and mooring tests prior to its upcoming maiden voyage, China Central Television (CCTV) reported on the eve of the anniversary on Saturday.
The Fujian, in a bid to complete the test, will leave the dock and conduct a navigation test out in the sea, Song Zhongping, a Chinese military expert and TV commentator, told the Global Times on Sunday.
Furthermore, CCTV explained that China's vast sea areas mean that three aircraft carriers alone cannot meet its demand, so it is certain that the country will build new carriers.
According to Chinese navy expert Li Jie, who was cited by GT, a nation needs a specific number of aircraft carriers to deploy them efficiently since, as a particular sort of big warship, an aircraft carrier spends a significant amount of time in maintenance and training outside of battle preparedness duties.
Read more: Chinese Army: US 'made a fuss' by sending warship
CCTV said, the electromagnetic catapult-equipped Fujian will likely be outfitted with new carrier-based aircraft when it goes into service, including new fighter planes, fixed-wing drones, and fixed-wing early warning aircraft.
Media reports are claiming that China is developing a carrier-based stealth fighter jet known as the J-35, an upgraded J-15 multirole fighter jet known as the J-15B, an electronic warfare variant of the J-15 known as the J-15D, and a carrier-based early warning aircraft known as the KJ-600.
The eighth Type 055 10,000-ton-class heavy destroyer, the Xianyang, entered service on Friday, the PLA Navy said. This occurred just before the PLA Navy's foundation anniversary. The eight warships in this class have now all been given their commissions.
The Type 055 destroyer is equipped with a 112-cell missile vertical launch system, prompting experts to dub it the world's best destroyer in terms of a full scope of capabilities.
This comes amid reports that China is establishing more naval bases, with the PLA expected to continue developing its capabilities.
The previous period has seen stark tensions between China and Taiwan, heightened by a meeting between Tsai and US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, during a stopover by the Taiwan leader in the United States.
McCarthy was planning on visiting Taipei himself rather than receiving Tsai in California. But the decision to change the plan came to allegedly avoid escalation with China.
