China’s People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) has been steadily advancing the operational readiness of its most advanced aircraft carrier, the Fujian, recently launching the vessel into its seventh round of sea trials.
As the PLAN seeks to fast-track the carrier’s commissioning, signs suggest the Chinese navy is intensifying its testing to ensure both the ship and its crew are combat-ready.
The Fujian is not only the newest aircraft carrier in the Chinese fleet but also the first to feature a flattop design and an Electromagnetic Aircraft Launching System (EMALS)—a technology previously exclusive to the U.S. Navy’s USS Gerald Ford.
This puts China in a rare category of nations with cutting-edge carrier technology, showcasing the PLAN’s growing naval ambitions.
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Recent commercial satellite imagery, reportedly captured over the Bohai Sea near northeastern China, surfaced on social media platforms over the weekend.
The photos, published by the South China Morning Post (SCMP), mark the first new visual evidence of the Fujian's latest trials.
However, the SCMP noted that it could not independently verify the images’ authenticity, likely due to legal and security concerns related to China’s notorious military secrecy.
“It is likely,” said one former NATO intelligence officer, “the SCMP is making this statement to cover their ass” and to avoid accusations of confirming sensitive details about the Fujian’s capabilities or exposing the reach of commercial satellite surveillance over PLAN activities.
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Among the most notable aspects of the current testing phase are evaluations of the Fujian's maneuverability and shock resistance.
Experts cited by the SCMP analyzed the satellite photos and pointed to visible wake patterns—specifically “straight trails” and “circles of decreasing diameter”—as evidence of the vessel undergoing steering and turning trials. These patterns demonstrate, they said, a “high level of maneuverability by the 80,000-tonne vessel.”
Additionally, a large cloud seen near the starboard section of the carrier was identified as likely being the result of a water plume generated by a shock test.
Shock resistance trials are a standard procedure for new vessels, designed to simulate underwater explosions—like those from enemy mines or torpedoes—and gauge a ship’s structural integrity under such conditions.
Liang Guoliang, a Hong Kong-based military commentator, told the SCMP that the explosion was “very close and powerful,” and strategically targeted “the most vulnerable section of the ship” rather than its bow or stern.
Liang noted that similar trials were conducted on the Shandong (CV 17), the first ski-jump carrier built entirely in China.
These tests aim to ensure the Fujian can remain operational even under combat duress—a necessary benchmark for the PLAN as it develops its power-projection capabilities.
The PLAN is not solely focused on the carrier’s hardware.
According to Chinese military analysts, lessons are being drawn from the Russian Navy’s poor performance in its ongoing conflict with Ukraine.
The sinking of the Moskva, Russia’s flagship guided missile cruiser, in April 2022 revealed critical failings in onboard emergency protocols and damage control training.
In response, Chinese naval planners are placing greater emphasis on the Fujian crew’s ability to manage crises at sea—whether caused by mechanical failures or hostile attacks.
“The PLAN is not only assessing the ship’s ability to survive a torpedo hit or a mine explosion,” one analyst noted, “but also evaluating the crew’s training for competently responding to an emergency of any kind at sea.”
Launched in June 2022 and beginning sea trials in May 2024, the Fujian represents a significant milestone in China’s push to modernize and expand its naval reach.
When the vessel departed from the Shanghai shipyard on March 18 for its latest trials, analysts speculated that EMALS and arresting cables would be tested using fixed-wing fighter aircraft, including the Shenyang J-15 and the stealth-capable J-35B.
If all sea trials prove successful, the Fujian could be handed over to the PLAN later this year, giving China a fleet of three operational aircraft carriers—a feat only matched by the United States.
This growing naval presence signals China’s determination to assert itself as a dominant maritime power in the Indo-Pacific and beyond.
With the Fujian nearing operational status, the PLAN edges closer to a new era of carrier-based strike capability, shaping not only regional balance but potentially shifting global naval dynamics.
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