Overview
- The Chinese navy confirmed Sanya/Yulin as Fujian’s permanent base, with officials saying the ship will regularly operate on the high seas.
- Commissioned on November 5, the 80,000-ton Fujian is China’s third aircraft carrier and the first fitted with electromagnetic catapults.
- PLAN spokesperson Senior Captain Leng Guowei said many systems are being fielded for the first time and the ship will undergo in-depth test verification after commissioning.
- Officials described the program as defensive and said future carrier development will be determined by national defense needs.
- Analysts are assessing how Fujian could affect the carrier balance in the western Pacific as the U.S. operates USS Nimitz in the South China Sea and USS George Washington in the region.