China launches third aircraft carrier Fujian

Chinese state media on Friday announced the launch of the country's third aircraft carrier, marking a major military advance for China.

The launching ceremony for the carrier named Fujian was held in Shanghai's Jiangnan shipyard, DW reports.

China's state broadcaster CCTV described it as the "first catapult-type aircraft carrier wholly designed and built by China."

Fujian sees the grand launch

CCTV footage showed navy personnel standing beneath the ship as water jets sprayed over its deck and multi-colored streamers flew and colorful smoke was released.

Named after the Fujian province, the carrier is more technically advanced than others in the fleet, and is only the second carrier fully built in China. 

The Fujian is expected to take years to reach operational capacity. No date has been announced yet for entry into service.

The development comes as tensions between China and the US have increased in recent weeks. Last week, China's Defense Minister Wei Fenghe said China would do

anything in its power to stop Taiwanese independence. The previous month, US President Joe Biden had said Washington would intervene militarily if China attacked Taiwan. 

"Sailing and mooring tests will be carried out as planned after the ship is launched," CCTV reported.

China has two other aircraft carriers in service. The Liaoning was commissioned in 2012, and the Shandong entered service in 2019. These warships use a ski-jump-style

platform for jets to take off and do not have a catapult system.

Chinese President Xi Jinping has vowed to build a "fully modern" force rivaling the United States military by 2027.