China has officially commissioned its latest aircraft carrier, the Fujian, following extensive sea trials. The event took place in Sanya on Hainan Island and was attended by Chinese President Xi Jinping. This marks a significant milestone as the Fujian is China's third aircraft carrier and the first to be entirely designed and built domestically.

The Fujian represents a key component of President Xi's ambitious military modernization plan, which aims to establish a world-class military by 2050. Experts believe this new carrier will enhance China's naval capabilities, allowing it to project power beyond its coastal waters. The commissioning of the Fujian is seen as a step toward narrowing the gap with the United States Navy, which currently maintains a dominant presence globally.

Greg Poling, director of the Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative, noted that aircraft carriers are crucial to China's vision of becoming a great power with a blue-water navy. He stated, "Carriers are key to Chinese leadership's vision of China as a great power with a blue-water navy."

China's naval strategy focuses on asserting dominance in the South China Sea, East China Sea, and Yellow Sea, particularly around the First Island Chain, which includes Japan, Taiwan, and the Philippines. However, the country also aims to challenge U.S. control in the Second Island Chain, which includes strategic military facilities in Guam and other locations.

The Pentagon has identified China's growing military capabilities as a significant concern, labeling it as the only competitor to the U.S. with the intent and capacity to reshape the international order. Song Zhongping, a military affairs expert based in Hong Kong, emphasized that China has the right to develop its navy to match its national strength. He stated, "China's carriers cannot just operate near home; they must operate in the distant oceans and far seas to carry out various training and support missions."

The Fujian features a full-length flight deck equipped with an electromagnetic launch system, a technology that allows for more efficient aircraft launches compared to the steam catapult systems used on previous Chinese carriers. This advancement enables the Fujian to launch heavier aircraft, including the KJ-600 early warning and control plane, as well as the latest J-35 stealth fighter and J-15T heavy fighter.

Despite these advancements, experts point out that China's navy still faces significant challenges. Currently, China operates three aircraft carriers, while the U.S. Navy has 11. Additionally, all U.S. carriers are nuclear-powered, allowing for longer operational durations without refueling. The U.S. also possesses a larger fleet of guided missile cruisers and destroyers, which are essential for air and submarine defense.

China is actively working to expand its naval capabilities, including the development of a nuclear-powered carrier and the construction of additional vessels. Brian Hart, deputy director of the CSIS China Power Project, remarked that China is rapidly closing the gap in naval power. He noted, "They're fielding and building more aircraft carriers, they're fielding more nuclear-powered subs, they are fielding more, larger destroyers and other vessels that carry a larger number of missiles."

As China continues to enhance its naval capabilities, the implications for regional and global security remain a topic of concern for many nations.