China’s New Fujian Carrier: Big Debut, Bigger Questions

Fujian shows China’s carrier ambitions, but its conventional power, deck layout, and untested EM catapults raise doubts about how much punch it really brings.

General view of the launching ceremony of China's third aircraft carrier, the Fujian, named after Fujian Province, at Jiangnan Shipyard, a subsidiary of China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC), in Shanghai, China, on June 17, 2022. The vessel was commissioned on Nov. 5, 2025. Li Tang/VCG via Getty Images

News Analysis

China’s newest aircraft carrier, the Fujian, arrived with big claims about a “new era” for the country’s navy and glossy footage of its J-35 stealth fighter launching from the deck.