China Launches Largest Ever Aircraft Carrier

China's military has launched its largest and most advanced aircraft carrier, the Fujian, for a new phase of sea trials.

This move underlines Beijing’s ambition to assert greater influence in the Asia-Pacific and challenge the longstanding maritime dominance of the United States.

Weighing over 80,000 tons, the Fujian is now the world's largest conventionally powered warship and marks a major technological leap for China’s navy.

It is the third aircraft carrier in the Chinese fleet, but the first to be equipped with an electromagnetic catapult system. This advanced launch mechanism places China in a highly exclusive club of naval powers.

The vessel recently departed Jiangnan Shipyard in Shanghai for open-water trials, where engineers tested the carrier’s electromagnetic catapults and aircraft arresting cables. These systems allow for faster, more efficient launches of heavily armed aircraft, an ability previously seen only aboard the US Navy's USS Gerald R. Ford.

According to Chinese media, the trials involved modern aircraft such as the stealth-capable J-35 and the upgraded J-15T, although it remains unclear whether full launch and recovery operations were completed.

Satellite imagery has since revealed tire marks on the flight deck, further fueling speculation that airborne test missions may have taken place.

The Fujian is expected to carry a wide array of next-generation aircraft, including the stealth fighter J-35, early warning KJ-600 planes, and JL-10 trainer jets. This will enable China to project integrated combat and surveillance missions far beyond its coastline—an ability long dominated by Western naval forces.

The aircraft carrier's eighth sea trial, described by state broadcaster CCTV as “intensive,” has prompted analysts to predict that the vessel is nearing operational readiness. While not yet fully commissioned, the progress signals a high level of confidence in the project’s development.

China currently possesses three aircraft carriers, compared to the United States’ eleven. Yet the addition of Fujian is expected to significantly alter the regional power balance, particularly amid ongoing tensions in the South China Sea and growing geopolitical friction with Washington and its allies.

In a related development, Chinese media reported that the country’s second aircraft carrier, the Shandong, recently engaged in an undisclosed naval encounter in the South China Sea, during which it reportedly forced an unidentified foreign carrier to withdraw. While no specific details were provided, the report serves as a reminder of Beijing’s increasing readiness to defend what it views as national sovereignty and strategic interests.

The South China Sea continues to be a flashpoint for military exercises, with frequent patrols by the US Navy and joint operations involving regional allies, aimed at ensuring freedom of navigation.

China, however, perceives these operations as a direct challenge to its maritime authority and has responded by expanding and modernizing its naval forces.