China launched its third and most modern aircraft carrier in its efforts to upgrade its military to catch up with the United States Armed Forces' power.
According to state broadcaster China Central Television, the new carrier, named the Fujian, was unveiled from Jiangnan Shipyard near Shanghai on Friday in a ceremony attended by military and civilian authorities.
The Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), a Washington-based research group, its catapult-assisted launch technology is a significant enhancement over Liaoning and Shandong's less advanced ski jump-style launch system.
The new system, comparable to those used by US aircraft carriers, will enable China to launch a larger range of aircraft from Fujian at a faster rate and with more firepower.
In addition to the launch mechanism, the Fujian possesses blocking devices and a full-load displacement of more than 80,000 tons, according to Xinhua.
After the launch, the ship will perform anchoring and navigation tests.
China launches "Fujian", country's third aircraft carrierhttps://t.co/WR6pSIeKhX pic.twitter.com/8fjUFQsV8e
— CGTN (@CGTNOfficial) June 17, 2022
China Pushes the Barriers With New Aircraft Carrier
Matthew Funaiole, a senior fellow at the CSIS's China Project, earlier stated that China's latest military ship is Beijing's "first foray into a modern aircraft carrier" and could be considered "a pretty significant step forward," as per a CNN report.
"They've really committed to building out a carrier program, and they continue to push the boundaries of what they're able to do," Funaiole said.
While the Fujian resembles the USS Gerald R. Ford, the newest US carrier, it will likely lack the capability and range of Nimitz- or Ford-class nuclear-powered supercarriers. The Chinese battleship will likely be powered by a diesel engine and will be similar in size to the US Kitty Hawk-class carriers that served from the 1960s to the 2000s, per Bloomberg.
China's most modern carrier has been launched amid rising tensions in the Taiwan Strait and the South China Sea, where China and its neighbors have rival territorial claims. Per The Washington Post, the signing of a security agreement between China and the Solomon Islands, as well as the presentation of a naval station in Cambodia, have increased fears about Beijing's expansion into the Gulf of Thailand and the South Pacific.
Currently, China commands the world's biggest naval force, and aircraft carriers are the backbone of any major power's navy. The large ships function as a floating airbase, enabling the fast and long-term deployment of aircraft and weaponry to a battle zone.
Geopolitical Tensions Expected to Intensify Further
The naval expansion of Beijing coincides with rising geopolitical tensions with the US, which is attempting to strengthen relationships with allies and partners in the Asia-Pacific area under President Joe Biden to counter China's expanding economic and military dominance.
Last year, Beijing objected to AUKUS, a security deal between the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia in which the three countries agreed to share military information and technology to enforce a tighter defense partnership in Asia.
The naval measures, which were attended by members of the Quad, a resurrected informal discussion between the US, Japan, Australia, and India, have further rattled China.
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