(Bloomberg) — China’s largest and most advanced warship has begun its first sea trials, paving the way for the country to improve its navy’s power-projection capabilities amid U.S. concerns about Beijing’s assertiveness in the Indo-Pacific region.
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According to state broadcaster CCTV, the Fujian, China’s third aircraft carrier, tested waters on Wednesday. The ship was launched and officially christened in June 2022. The province lies across the Strait from Taiwan, which the Chinese Communist Party has pledged to take over – albeit by force.
The 316-meter (1,037-foot) carrier is equipped with three electromagnetic catapults for launching fighter jets, similar to the advanced system on the newest U.S. carrier, the 337-meter-long USS Gerald R. Ford. But unlike America’s fleet of nuclear-powered aircraft carriers, the Fujian is conventionally powered, which could limit its range and operational duration.
According to Chinese state media, the first sea trial will focus primarily on the reliability and stability of the propulsion and energy systems. Before the Fujian is delivered to the Navy, it must undergo tests to test its performance, including its engine and weapon systems.
The sea trial marks a milestone for the Fujian, a key piece of President Xi Jinping’s ambitious plan to improve the military. Under his leadership, China set a goal of building “a modern military” by 2027 and a “world-class” version by 2049, the 100th anniversary of the People’s Republic.
With a displacement of more than 80,000 tons, the Fujian is around 20,000 tons more than its two predecessors. The ship is part of a fleet upgrade that the Pentagon expects to increase to 435 ships by 2030. In addition, China is increasing the armament of its coast guard ships and sending the militarized vessels into contested waters such as the South China Sea.
Both the Liaoning, a converted Soviet-era ship that became China’s first aircraft carrier, and the Chinese-built Shandong use ski jumps, which are less efficient than catapults for launching jets. The Fujian also has a flat runway, which provides more space for jets on the aircraft carrier’s deck.
The sea trials for the Liaoning lasted up to 13 months, while the sea trials for the Shandong lasted about 19 months.
(Updates with comments from state media in paragraph 4. A previous version corrected a mention of a jet launch method.)
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