According to official media, China’s Fujian aircraft carrier launched for its first sea trials on Wednesday. This is a significant next step in Beijing’s massive naval build-up as it forges a more assertive position for itself in the Pacific and beyond.
The largest ship in the Chinese navy’s history, the Fujian is the country’s third aircraft carrier, behind the Liaoning and Shandong warships.
It left the Jiangnan Shipyard in eastern Shanghai at about eight in the morning, according to state news agency Xinhua.
The tests will “primarily test the reliability and stability of the aircraft carrier’s propulsion and electrical systems” , it stated.
China is attempting to undermine the US-led alliance structure and increase its influence in the Pacific by rapidly growing its naval forces.
Notably, tensions have increased near Taiwan, the self-governing island, where Beijing has stationed the aircraft carrier Shandong, and in the disputed South China Sea, which it claims nearly entirely.
It is the world’s largest navy, according to a January Congressional Research Service report that cited the Pentagon and predicted it could increase to 435 ships by 2030.
The study stated that “achieving a greater degree of control or domination over China’s near-seas region, particularly the South China Sea” and “addressing the situation with Taiwan militarily, if need be” are the two goals of the build-up.
“US intervention in a conflict in China’s near-seas region over Taiwan or some other issue, or failing that, delay the arrival or reduce the effectiveness of intervening US forces,” is something China wants its navy to be able to prevent, the statement continued.
The Fujian is anticipated to have more sophisticated takeoff mechanisms, which will let the Chinese air force to deploy planes with bigger payloads and more fuel, according to analysts at the Washington-based think tank CSIS.
“The vessel is slated to become the largest surface combatant in the Chinese People’s Liberation Army Navy and significantly upgrade China’s naval capabilities,” they wrote.
