The commissioning and handover ceremony of Fujian, China’s first aircraft carrier equipped with electromagnetic catapults, took place on November 5, 2025 at a naval port in the city of Sanya, in China’s Hainan province (south). (Photo: Li Gang)
China’s first aircraft carrier equipped with electromagnetic catapults, the Fujian, will make regular appearances on the high seas, a Chinese navy spokesperson said on Saturday.
While the military port of Sanya in the southern island province of Hainan is the aircraft carrier’s home port, the vast ocean is its “true home”, senior sea captain Leng Guowei said in a written interview.
The Fujian was commissioned on Wednesday at a naval port in the city of Sanya. It is the largest warship in the Navy. Named after eastern China’s Fujian province and launched in June 2022, the gigantic ship was independently designed and built by China.
According to Leng, during the construction of Fujian, the development and testing of related equipment, including carrier-based combat aircraft, such as J-35, J-15T and J-15D, KongJing-600 early warning aircraft and Z-20 series helicopters, progressed steadily as planned.
It will not be long before Fujian is fully equipped with its carrier-based aircraft, the spokesperson said.
Noting that many of Fujian’s facilities and technologies are being put into practice for the first time, Leng said the aircraft carrier will continue to undergo in-depth verification tests after it is put into service.
Leng stressed that China’s efforts in developing and improving weapons and equipment are not aimed at any other country or specific goals, and these efforts do not pose a threat to other countries or regions.
These initiatives aim to protect the country’s national sovereignty, security and development interests, the spokesperson explained.
Carrying hull number 18, Fujian is one of three aircraft carriers currently in service in the country.
China will make its future aircraft carrier development plans with full consideration of national defense needs, Leng said.
