China has commissioned its third aircraft carrier, the Fujian, now possessing the world's second-largest fleet of such vessels. This expansion, however, still places it significantly behind the US Navy's 11 carriers.
The Fujian officially entered service this week during a ceremony attended by President Xi Jinping, the state-run Xinhua news agency reported on Friday. Its advanced electromagnetic catapult launchers represent a technological leap, enabling the navy to project power across the Pacific and assert influence in disputed areas like the East China Sea, Taiwan Strait, and South China Sea.
