China’s newest and most advanced aircraft carrier, the Fujian, transited the Taiwan Strait on Friday, September 12, 2025, en route to the South China Sea for its final phase of testing before entering service, according to the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN). A PLAN spokesperson stated the transit is a “routine mission” in the carrier’s construction process and is “not aimed at any specific target.”
Background
The 80,000-tonne Fujian is China’s third aircraft carrier, following the Liaoning and Shandong. Though not yet formally commissioned, the vessel marks a significant technological leap for Beijing as it is equipped with an electromagnetic catapult system—an advanced technology previously used only on the US Gerald R. Ford-class carriers. The Fujian has already completed previous sea trials in the East China Sea and the Yellow Sea.
Analysis
The Fujian’s passage through the sensitive Taiwan Strait, even if for technical purposes, sends a strategic message to Taiwan, the United States, and other regional actors. The move demonstrates China’s growing confidence in displaying its military hardware near Taiwan. The carrier’s impending entry into service will significantly enhance China’s power projection capabilities in the South China Sea and beyond, narrowing the technology gap with the U.S. Navy. However, China’s main challenge lies not just in hardware but in developing the expert crews needed to operate three carriers simultaneously, a process the U.S. has spent nearly a century perfecting.
Conclusion
The final testing phase of the Fujian aircraft carrier and its imminent commissioning mark a critical milestone in China’s naval modernization. This development not only shifts the military balance in the Indo-Pacific but also elevates the strategic competition between Beijing and Washington to a new level.
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