China’s most advanced aircraft carrier, the Fujian, sailed through the Taiwan Strait on Tuesday, marking its first known transit of the sensitive waterway since formally entering service last month, according to Taiwan’s defence ministry. Taipei said its forces monitored the carrier as it passed through the strait, releasing a grainy image showing the vessel without aircraft on deck. China’s defence ministry did not immediately comment.
The Fujian is China’s third aircraft carrier and its most capable to date, featuring a flat flight deck and electromagnetic catapults. It follows earlier trials in September, when the carrier transited the strait and entered the South China Sea. Taiwanese officials said the ship was likely heading toward Shanghai’s Changxing island shipyard and did not appear to be conducting combat operations during the transit.
Why It Matters
The passage underscores China’s growing naval capability and its willingness to operate high-end military assets in one of Asia’s most politically sensitive waterways. Beijing claims sovereignty over the Taiwan Strait, while Taiwan and the United States regard it as international waters. The Fujian’s deployment adds to sustained military pressure on Taiwan, which reports near-daily Chinese air and naval activity around the island.
As the most advanced platform in China’s fleet, the Fujian significantly enhances Beijing’s ability to project power in the western Pacific. Its eventual deployment with heavier fighters, early-warning aircraft and stealth jets could shift the regional military balance, particularly in scenarios involving Taiwan.
China’s military and political leadership are central, using carrier operations to signal growing maritime power and sovereignty claims. Taiwan’s government and armed forces remain on high alert, viewing such movements as coercive pressure. The United States and regional allies, who regularly monitor freedom of navigation in the strait, also have a strong strategic interest in how China employs its newest carrier.
What’s Next
Analysts will watch whether the Fujian increases the frequency of transits or begins conducting flight operations near Taiwan. Attention will also focus on how quickly China integrates advanced aircraft onto the carrier and whether its movements become part of larger joint exercises, further raising tensions across the strait.
With information from Reuters.
