As part of a new sailing of China’s newest and most advanced aircraft carrier, in recent hours the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN), as well as Taiwan’s Armed Forces, reported that the Fujian is transiting the Taiwan Strait en route to the South China Sea. This latest deployment once again placed the vessel under the watch of regional countries closely monitoring progress toward its readiness and its presumed upcoming delivery and entry into service.
On September 10, OSINT sources reported a new sailing of the Chinese Navy’s latest carrier bound for an unknown destination. Having departed from Shanghai’s Jiangnan Shipyard, CV-18 was tracked closely by observers and analysts, who highlighted that this could be one of the final outings of the Fujian before entering active service. Its new route, however, was also monitored by Japan’s Self-Defense Forces, which for the first time shadowed the new carrier in international waters, about 200 km northeast of Uotsuri Island (Okinawa Prefecture).
As its voyage progressed, the latest updates located it just hours ago crossing the Taiwan Strait, heading toward the South China Sea. It is also important to note that the carrier is not sailing alone, but is being escorted by the destroyers Hangzhou (134) and Jinan (152), the latter a Type 052C-class vessel.
Since the beginning of this voyage, it has been suggested that this latest sailing of China’s third carrier may be related to new flight deck trials involving some of the future aircraft that will form its Embarked Air Wing (EAW), expected in its initial stage to include the new J-15T fighter and the KJ-600 early warning aircraft, both of which featured prominently in the Victory Day aerial parade. The PLA Navy, for its part, stated that the deployment’s purpose was “a mission of scientific research, testing, and training” as part of routine sailing activities.
Finally, the commissioning date of the Chinese Navy’s third aircraft carrier remains a secret. It is speculated that the Fujian could be formally inducted on a historically significant date for China, such as the Manchurian Incident of 1931 or the National Day of the People’s Republic of China, celebrated next week on September 18.
It is also presumed that the Fujian will be based at the Yulin Naval Base in Hainan, where the carrier Shandong (CV-17) is stationed. However, it is possible the vessel could be commissioned at a location in the namesake province, directly facing the Taiwan Strait.
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