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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.

WASHINGTON – In⁢ a​ move escalating tensions with russia and China,President Donald Trump has ordered teh resumption of nuclear testing in the United states,marking the⁢ first such activity in over 30 years. The decision, announced ‍October 30, 2025, comes amid heightened global security concerns and​ follows provocative ‍statements from former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev.

The order directs the positioning of “two nuclear ⁣submarines in the appropriate areas,” according to a statement released by the White House on August 1, 2025. This ⁢action followed the⁤ postponement⁤ of⁢ a planned ⁣meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Budapest, a summit Trump cancelled⁣ citing a desire to⁤ avoid discussions “for nothing.” The united States subsequently imposed ‍new sanctions on Russian hydrocarbons.

Trump’s decision to‍ restart testing reverses a moratorium imposed by President George H.W. Bush in 1992. Between the first American‍ nuclear test in July 1945 in the New Mexico desert and the moratorium, the United States conducted 1,054 nuclear tests, including⁢ the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945.

The move follows recent Russian advancements in nuclear weaponry, including the accomplished final test⁣ of the⁣ Bourevestnik nuclear-powered cruise missile of “unlimited range” and​ the Poseidon underwater drone, both touted by Putin as systems “no other device in the world ⁢is equal to” and “no way to intercept.”

The‌ United States and Russia remain bound by the New Start disarmament treaty, which limits each ​party to 1,550 deployed strategic offensive warheads and includes a ⁣verification mechanism currently interrupted for two years.Putin ​proposed extending⁤ the treaty for a⁣ year in early october but did not address the resumption of ‌arsenal inspections.‌ The U.S. withdrew from the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty in 2019.

Trump, who previously⁤ positioned himself as a “president of peace,” has reportedly adopted a ⁢harder stance toward Moscow as a ⁢summit in Alaska with Putin this summer. Following a meeting with Chinese President Xi jinping, who has become a close ally of Putin, Trump stated Washington and Beijing would “work together” on the war in Ukraine.

Brussels – October 20, 2025 – The ⁢European Union took‍ a notable step toward curtailing⁣ Russia’s revenue stream from energy​ sales today, as a ⁣majority of member states approved, in principle, a ‌ban on ⁣imports of ⁤Russian natural gas by the​ end ⁤of 2027. The ​decision marks a key milestone in the EU’s ongoing efforts to diminish reliance on Russian hydrocarbons following the invasion⁢ of Ukraine in early 2022.

“This decision will shape the future of our continent.We will ‍stop⁤ financing⁢ the Russian war machine and⁤ diversify our energy supply,” stated Danish Energy ​Minister Lars Aagaard, who chaired the meeting.

European Energy Commissioner Dan Jorgensen reinforced the message, telling reporters, “We‌ are ⁣sending a ‍vrey clear message today: ⁤we will‍ no ⁣longer allow​ Russia to⁢ use energy⁤ as a weapon.”

The move⁤ comes despite concerns raised by some member states. Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs peter Szijjarto argued the ban would “kill” Hungary’s energy security, asserting, “For us, energy supply has nothing to do with ‌politics” and “nothing to do with Russia.”

Currently, Russia still supplies 19% of the EU’s total gas imports as of 2024, ‌down from 45% in 2021. The European Commission initially proposed a complete halt to Russian gas imports by the end of 2027 in ‍the spring⁣ of 2025.

Further acceleration is under consideration, with a proposal to advance the deadline for halting imports of liquefied natural gas⁣ (LNG) to the end of 2026, as part of a 19th package of sanctions against Russia currently under discussion.

The European Parliament has advocated for even more aggressive action, with its Industry and Commerce committees approving a text aiming to ban all Russian gas imports – pipeline and LNG ⁤- from January 1, 2026, with limited exceptions.

U.S. president Donald‍ trump recently echoed calls for a swift end ⁢to European purchases of Russian fossil ⁢fuels, criticizing the continued trade as counterproductive‍ to​ efforts ⁣to support ⁤Ukraine. “Europe⁢ must move up a gear. It cannot continue ⁤to ‌act as it is currently ​doing. It is buying⁢ oil and‍ gas from‌ Russia while ‍it is ​in‌ conflict with this country. It is embarrassing ⁣for it,” Trump stated during the United Nations annual Assembly in New‍ York.