Chinese Navy’s newest aircraft carrier, the Fujian, which is nearing launch

Chinese third aircraft carrier, the Fujian, is getting ready to hit the water at a time when tensions and global military competitiveness are on the rise. The warship, currently docked at Shanghai’s Jiangnan Shipyard, has recently undergone extensive renovations, including the removal of several major deck structures. These adjustments mark the beginning of testing for its propulsion system, an essential stage on the road to full functioning.

The Fujian is a watershed moment in Chinese efforts to extend the reach of its military beyond its shores. As the first aircraft carrier to be built entirely in China, it represents President Xi Jinping’s vision to make the People’s Liberation Army a “world-class military” by the middle of this century.

What follows is essential information

As the Fujian’s test runs and eventual deployment will shed light on Chinese military capabilities and its ability to threaten the United States’ supremacy in the Pacific region, it is being monitored by foreign defence experts and analysts. This occurs at a time when Beijing is increasing its military pressure on Taiwan, which is causing widespread alarm around the world.

According to a researcher from the Taipei-based Council on Strategic and Wargaming Studies think tank who talked with FT, the Fujian is intended to challenge the United States and its allies’ air superiority in the western Pacific and east Asia, giving the People’s Liberation Army more leeway in how it conducts its missions. Hsu says the PLA did not use the technologies included in Fujian, so the testing period may be extended.

However, it is anticipated that sea trials will begin before the year’s end. Guam is a vital site with numerous significant US military bases; thus, during the past two years, the PLA Navy has moved its existing aircraft carriers closer to the island for training purposes. Chinese two existing carriers, the Liaoning and the Shandong, have participated in such missions, although their small size and antiquated designs have restricted the scope of their involvement.

The advanced carriers of the United States Navy use nuclear propulsion systems, while the Fujian uses conventional power, limiting its speed and range. However, it shares key features with the US Navy’s most sophisticated carrier, the USS Gerald Ford, including an electromagnetic catapult launch mechanism. When launching planes, however, Liaoning and Shandong rely on antiquated ski-jump ramps. With Fujian’s development, China shows it is serious about becoming a maritime force and challenging the United States’ naval supremacy in the region.

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