Giant Fujian Carrier from China May Make Its Debut on Victory Day, Projecting Power in Symbolic Manner
The China State Shipbuilding Corp's Jiangnan shipyard in Shanghai has been the centre of activity, as the Fujian aircraft carrier, China's first entirely domestically-produced aircraft carrier, is set to enter service next month.
In a report by China Central Television (CCTV), the Fujian was shown at sea, having completed a series of take-off trials. The carrier, sporting China's most advanced electromagnetic catapult system, is set to narrow the gap with the U.S. Navy.
The Fujian is China's first catapult-equipped aircraft carrier, a technology shared only with the USA and France among current aircraft carrier operators. This advancement in naval power is expected to be a major point of military pride, with the carrier's debut serving as a symbolic show of power.
The report opened with shots of the Jiangnan shipyard, where the Fujian was built and launched. Besides the carrier, the commissioning is part of a larger display that includes tanks, missiles, and a 1,000-member military band.
The commissioning of the Fujian is deliberately tied to wartime memory, stirring nationalism and sending a message to Japan and other regional rivals. The carrier's debut is expected to coincide with China's Victory Day, serving as a symbolic show of power.
The Fujian is longer and has undergone more rigorous sea trials compared to previous Chinese carriers like the Liaoning and Shandong. The equipment for the parade associated with the Fujian's commissioning is not made for display but for fighting.
Once commissioned, China will be the only country other than the U.S. to operate an electromagnetic catapult carrier. The report framed the Fujian as a form of "revenge" or historical justice, as it was shown operating in the same waters as the Imperial Japanese Navy's flagship Izumo 88 years ago.
No specific date for the commissioning of the Fujian has been given in the report, but it is anticipated that it could be officially commissioned into service during the upcoming wartime anniversaries in China. The Fujian's commissioning is expected to be a significant milestone in China's military development.
