China has formally commissioned its newest and most advanced aircraft carrier, the Fujian, marking a major milestone in its military modernisation drive. However, defence analysts and diplomats say the vessel faces significant technical and operational hurdles before it can be declared fully combat ready.

A New Phase in China’s Naval Expansion

President Xi Jinping presided over the commissioning ceremony in Hainan province on Wednesday, where he presented the navy’s flag and toured the Fujian, according to the official Xinhua news agency. The carrier, China’s third, features a flat flight deck equipped with electromagnetic catapults, a key technological leap from the ski-jump ramps used on the earlier Liaoning and Shandong carriers.

The Fujian can host more aircraft, including heavier a

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