Ship with aircraft catapult
China launches third aircraft carrier
06/17/2022, 10:42 am
With the “Fujian”, China is completing its largest and most modern aircraft carrier. Unlike its two predecessors, it is completely self-constructed and features advanced innovations. The military lead gained in this way is viewed with concern, particularly by the USA.
China has launched its third aircraft carrier in a ceremony. The “Fujian”, which is technically more advanced than the previous ships, was launched in a Shanghai shipyard, as reported by the state broadcaster CCTV. The ship is the first fully domestically designed and built aircraft carrier and represents an important military advance for China.
A satellite image of the “Fujian” from May shows the ship still in the shipyard.
(Photo: dpa)
According to CCTV, the “Fujian” is the first ship of its kind with an aircraft catapult. In contrast to the previous two ships, it no longer has an old-fashioned launch pad, but instead uses electromagnetic catapults to launch the planes into the air. With a displacement of 80,000 tons, she is also larger than her predecessors.
It will be years before the “Fujian” is operational. The Ministry of Defense has not yet announced a date for the commissioning. According to defense magazine Janes, the United States currently has by far the most aircraft carriers with 11 ships, followed by China and Great Britain with two ships each.
In particular, China’s increasingly aggressive attitude towards Taiwan had recently caused tensions with the USA to rise significantly. Chinese Defense Minister Wei Fenghe recently said his country would fight “to the end against independence” for the island. China sees Taiwan as a breakaway province that is to be reunited with the mainland – if necessary using military force. The US is pursuing a line of “strategic ambiguity” on this issue. In doing so, they assure Taiwan of support in developing its defense capabilities, but do not expressly promise to come to the island’s aid in the event of war.
China deployed its first aircraft carrier, the Liaoning, in 2012. It was a ship that had been bought from Ukraine and rebuilt. Six years later, “Shandong” was the first self-built aircraft carrier. The three ships are each named after Chinese provinces.