China has officially commissioned its most advanced aircraft carrier, the Fujian, marking a significant escalation in its naval modernization and competition with the United States.
The commissioning ceremony, held in southern Hainan province on Wednesday, was overseen by Chinese leader Xi Jinping.
The Fujian is China's third and most powerful carrier. Crucially, it is equipped with electromagnetic catapults and a flat flight deck, a technology previously only deployed by the US. State media credited Xi Jinping with the personal decision to adopt this advanced system.
This new technology allows planes to launch at higher speeds and carry heavier weapons and fuel loads, enabling them to strike enemy targets from a greater distance. This makes the Fujian significantly more powerful than China's first two carriers, the Liaoning and the Shandong (which were Russian-built).
State media hailed the carrier as a "major milestone" in the development of China's navy, which is already the world's largest by sheer number of ships. China's rapid naval expansion under Xi Jinping is explicitly noted as putting pressure on the US and its allies.
During the ceremony, Xi Jinping toured the ship's deck and spoke to sailors who reportedly shouted in unison: "Follow the party's command, fight to win, and uphold fine conduct!"
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