China's third domestically built aircraft carrier, the Fujian, embarked on its inaugural sea trials on Wednesday, marking a significant step in Beijing's naval expansion amidst heightened tensions with the US in the disputed South China Sea and Taiwan Strait.
The vessel set sail from Shanghai Jiangnan Shipyard on Wednesday morning for the sea trials, primarily aimed at assessing the reliability and stability of its propulsion and electrical systems, as reported by the state-run Xinhua news agency.
Since its launch in June 2022, the Fujian has undergone mooring trials, outfitting work, and equipment adjustments, meeting the technical prerequisites for sea trials.
Prior to the trials, China imposed maritime traffic controls around the mouth of the Yangtze River, where the Jiangnan shipyard is located, citing "military activities." These controls are slated to remain in effect until May 9.
According to earlier official reports, China intends to have five to six aircraft carriers by 2035 for strategic positioning in key areas such as the disputed South China Sea, the Taiwan Strait, and the Indian Ocean, where Beijing aims to enhance its power projection capabilities.
Discussing China's strategy for acquiring aircraft carriers, Senior Colonel (Retired) Zhou Bo, a senior fellow at the Centre for International Security and Strategy at Tsinghua University, said China sees their importance for possible war far from home.
"Aircraft carriers are primarily not for coastal conflicts. They are for potential engagements far from home," Bo stated in an interview with the Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post.
"While they could be useful in scenarios like the Taiwan issue, their true value lies in power projection in distant waters such as the Pacific Ocean, Indian Ocean, or Atlantic Ocean," he added.
Presently, the Chinese navy is engaged in a standoff with Philippine naval vessels in the South China Sea, where the Philippines seeks to assert its claim over the Second Thomas Shoal, contested by China and other neighbouring nations.
China's aircraft carriers are named after its provinces, with Fujian, bordering the Taiwan Strait, being the latest addition. The country's first carrier, Liaoning, was a refurbished Soviet-era vessel commissioned in 2012, followed by the domestically built Shandong in 2019.
The Fujian distinguishes itself with a full displacement of over 80,000 tonnes, approximately 20,000 tonnes more than its predecessors, and features an electromagnetic aircraft launch system (EMALS) akin to the American aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford.
Notably, it boasts a flat-top flight deck, unlike China's other carriers equipped with ski-jump take-off ramps.
China's navy underwent significant modernisation efforts in 2013, prioritising the development of aircraft carriers, submarines, frigates, and assault ships as part of its strategy to bolster global influence.
Estimates suggest China is constructing nearly a naval vessel per month while also assisting Pakistan in modernising its navy through the provision of advanced frigates and submarines.
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