The launch of the Fujian was a defining moment for the PLAN, marking its rise as a world-class navy. Compared to the previous two, the Fujian has a larger displacement, approximately 85,000 tonnes, and is fitted with advanced technologies such as the electromagnetic catapult system for launching aircraft, putting it almost on par technologically with the carriers of the United States. This was the first aircraft carrier to be fully designed in China. On 17 June 2022, the People’s Republic of China (PRC) launched its third aircraft carrier, the Fujian 福建舰, named after the coastal province directly opposite Taiwan. In May, a Chinese surveillance ship was spotted in the Indian Ocean near the West Australian coast, which then Defence Minister Peter Dutton described as ‘ an act of aggression’.
The China-Solomon Islands security pact signed in April 2022 opens the possibility for Chinese maritime security vessels to operate deep in the Pacific. The People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) is increasingly making its presence felt regionally and globally.
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