China’s Newest Aircraft Carrier Fujian Sails Through Taiwan Strait, Raising Regional Concerns

China confirmed on Friday that its third and most advanced aircraft carrier, the Fujian, recently sailed through the Taiwan Strait as part of sea trials and training missions in the South China Sea, a move that has drawn close scrutiny from Taipei, Tokyo, and Washington.

The Fujian, which is still undergoing trials before entering active service, joins China’s existing carriers, the Liaoning and Shandong, as Beijing pours billions into modernizing its military. China’s navy said the carrier’s cross-regional tests were “a normal part of the construction process” and “not directed at any specific target,” according to naval spokesman Leng Guowei.

Military analysts, however, said the maneuver carried symbolic weight. “It’s to flex China’s newfound military strength and send a veritable signal to potential adversaries,” said Collin Koh, a senior fellow at Singapore’s S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies. He added that the transit underscored Beijing’s ambition to project power as both a military and maritime heavyweight.

Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense confirmed it had tracked the carrier using “joint intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance means” and had responded to ensure regional security. The island’s government has repeatedly warned that China’s intensifying military activities represent a growing threat, especially as Beijing refuses to rule out the use of force to bring Taiwan under its control.

Japan also monitored the carrier’s movements. Its defense ministry reported that on Thursday, three Chinese naval vessels, including the Fujian, were spotted southwest of the disputed Senkaku Islands, known in China as the Diaoyu Islands. It marked the first time Tokyo’s maritime forces had identified the Fujian. Japan has warned that such activities could “seriously impact” its security, citing record numbers of Chinese vessels near the islands last year.

Chinese state media and military commentators said the South China Sea trials were particularly challenging due to harsher maritime conditions. “After completing sea trials and adaptive training, the Fujian will likely be commissioned into service,” said Song Zhongping, a Chinese military analyst.

The Fujian represents a major technological leap for the Chinese navy. Analysts at the Washington-based Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) noted that the vessel is expected to feature advanced electromagnetic catapult launch systems, enabling fighter jets to carry heavier payloads and fuel compared to earlier carriers.

China already possesses the world’s largest navy by number of ships, with more than 370 vessels, according to a 2023 U.S. Department of Defense report. Beijing has increasingly deployed its carrier groups to the western Pacific, including exercises last year that unsettled neighbors such as Japan and Taiwan.

As China continues to expand its naval reach, regional powers remain on high alert. For Taipei and Tokyo, the Fujian’s first Taiwan Strait transit was less about sea trials and more about Beijing’s intent to demonstrate its growing military clout across contested waters.