Japan Spots China's New Aircraft Carrier, Fujian, in East China Sea

Japan's Maritime Self-Defense Force (MSDF) has sighted China's newest aircraft carrier, the Fujian, for the first time. The sighting was announced by Japan's Defense Ministry on September 11th. The carrier was observed sailing in the East China Sea.

The Fujian, launched in 2022 and currently undergoing sea trials, was reportedly sailing northwest of disputed islands. China has indicated that the Fujian could be operationally deployed as early as 2025. The Japanese Defense Ministry stated it is conducting surveillance and intelligence gathering related to the carrier.

At approximately 1 p.m. on September 11th, an MSDF P-3C patrol aircraft confirmed a flotilla of three vessels. The flotilla consisted of the Fujian, a Sovremennyy-class guided-missile destroyer, and a Luyang II-class guided-missile destroyer. The vessels were located about 200 kilometers northwest of Uotsurishima island, part of the Senkaku Islands.

No carrier-based aircraft were observed on the Fujian's flight deck. The vessels did not approach Japanese territorial waters and continued sailing in a southwesterly direction. The Fujian, with a maximum displacement of 80,000 tons and a length of 315 meters, is considered the world's largest conventionally powered warship. It is designed to operate carrier-based aircraft and carry substantial amounts of fuel and ammunition. The carrier is equipped with China's first electromagnetic catapult launch system.

A key difference between the Fujian and China's previous carriers, the Liaoning and the Shandong, is the flat front of its flight deck, similar to U.S. aircraft carriers. The deployment of the Fujian is believed to be connected to a potential "Taiwan contingency." The vessel's entry into service is expected to significantly boost the Chinese military's operational capabilities.