In November 2025, the Fujian aircraft carrier officially entered service with China’s People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN). Unlike the Liaoning (CV-16) and Shandong (CV-17), which use ski-jump decks, the Fujian (CV-18) is the first PLAN carrier equipped with an electromagnetic catapult system. Because of this technological leap, the Fujian can launch airborne early-warning aircraft and fully armed fighters, marking a new phase for China’s naval aviation capability.
In principle, China’s carrier force needs at least four vessels: one stationed in the Northern Theater Command, another in Sanya, one for training, and one undergoing maintenance or rotation. From a strategic perspective, beyond operations in the East China Sea and toward the south, Chinese carrier patrols in the South China Sea and the Western Pacific will pose new challenges for countries inside the First Island Chain. This explains why many regional states are strengthening shore-based anti-ship missile systems and underwater warfare capabilities.
