China has commissioned the Fujian, its third aircraft carrier and the first to be both developed and built domestically. Overseen by Xi Jinping in Hainan, the ship uses three electromagnetic catapults—akin to the US Gerald R. Ford class—replacing the ski-jump ramps on China’s first two carriers. Unlike the Ford, however, Fujian uses conventional propulsion, a choice that could limit its range, the Financial Times reported.

A fleet that signals long-range ambition

Beijing is already building a fourth carrier and, according to PLA-linked textbooks and academic writings, plans more. The party’s aim is a cutting-edge military that rivals US forces, asserting dominance in its “near abroad” while projecting power to protect expanding global economic interests. Xi has set milestones to fully mo

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