China Launches Third Aircraft Carrier, Signaling Naval Power Ambitions
BEIJING - November 7, 2025 – China has officially commissioned its third aircraft carrier, the Fujian, marking a critically important milestone in the modernization of its navy and escalating strategic competition in the Asia-Pacific region. the launch underscores Beijing‘s growing naval capabilities and its intent to project power further afield, though experts caution it will take years before the vessel reaches full combat readiness.
The Fujian,which began sea trials in May 2024,represents a technological leap forward for China’s carrier programme. “No Western contry, apart from the United States, operates an aircraft carrier of similar size and capabilities,” noted Alex Luck, a specialist in naval armaments, in a statement to AFP.
while the Fujian‘s deployment is a symbolic achievement, analysts emphasize that China still lags behind the United States in overall naval experience. “The Chinese navy remains behind its potential adversaries – in particular the United States – in terms of cumulative operational experience, training of carrier battle groups and, above all, experience of real combat,” explained Collin Koh, a naval issues specialist at the Nanyang Technological University in Singapore. He identified this lack of combat experience as a “major handicap.”
Currently, the Fujian is expected to primarily serve as a platform for training and exercises, rather than long-range power projection. “China has not used its aircraft carriers to project power over long distances, and Fujian is unlikely to change this dynamic,” Luck stated. He anticipates the ship will be utilized to “continue testing” and “draw new lessons for future” aircraft carriers, perhaps including exercises near Taiwan, which Beijing claims as a province.
China’s naval expansion has raised concerns among regional neighbors and Washington, notably regarding activity in the South China Sea and around taiwan. Beijing maintains its military policy is “defensive” and focused on safeguarding its sovereignty.
Rumors persist of a fourth aircraft carrier currently under construction, potentially entering service in the early 2030s, further solidifying China’s ambitions to become a dominant naval force. The commissioning of the Fujian represents a decades-long investment in modernizing the People’s Liberation Army Navy, aligning with China’s growing economic and diplomatic influence on the world stage.
