China Commissions the Fujian Carrier — A Major Step in Expanding Naval Reach

China commissions the Fujian, its first domestically designed carrier

China has officially commissioned its newest aircraft carrier, the Fujian, after extensive sea trials, state media reported. The official Xinhua news agency said the vessel was formally commissioned Wednesday at a naval base on Hainan island in a ceremony attended by President Xi Jinping.

The Fujian is China's third aircraft carrier and the first to be both designed and built domestically. Officials and analysts describe it as an important milestone in Beijing’s multi-year effort to modernize its armed forces and extend the operational reach of the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN).

Experts say the carrier will enable Chinese naval forces to operate farther from their coastal waters, supporting longer-range deployments, carrier strike groups and more sustained air operations at sea. Observers view the Fujian as a visible symbol of the wider military overhaul that seeks a modernized force by 2035 and a "world-class" navy by mid-century — a goal many interpret as narrowing the capability gap with the United States.

Context: The commissioning follows extensive sea trials. Analysts note the ship incorporates design advances compared with earlier Chinese carriers and represents a step toward more independent carrier development and operations.

While state media emphasized the Fujian as a technological and strategic achievement for China, international analysts will be watching how the vessel is deployed and how quickly it integrates into PLAN operations. The development adds to growing regional naval activity and will likely shape strategic calculations across the Indo-Pacific.