China has confirmed that its third and most advanced aircraft carrier, the Fujian, recently transited the Taiwan Strait en route to the South China Sea for what it described as “scientific research trials and training missions.”
The Fujian, still in the sea trial phase, joins the Liaoning and Shandong as part of Beijing’s expanding carrier fleet. The Chinese navy said cross-regional trials are a routine step in the vessel’s construction process and “not directed at any specific target,” according to navy spokesman Leng Guowei.
However, analysts say the move carries strategic weight. Collin Koh, a senior fellow at Singapore’s S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies, called the transit a demonstration of “China’s rise as a strong military power” and a signal to potential adversaries of its growing maritime capabilities.
Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense said it monitored the carrier’s passage using joint intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance systems, and responded as necessary.
Japan’s defense ministry reported that on Thursday afternoon it identified three Chinese naval vessels including the Fujian sailing southwest about 200 kilometers northwest of the disputed Senkaku Islands, marking the first time its Maritime Self-Defense Force has confirmed sighting the carrier.
The Fujian’s appearance underscores China’s continued investment in modernizing its military, a trend that has unsettled some regional governments despite Beijing’s insistence that its intentions are peaceful.
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