Photo:Reuters

The sailing of China’s newest aircraft carrier, the Fujian, through the Taiwan Strait is more than just a naval exercise. It is a major geopolitical signal, a demonstration of military power, and a reminder of the rising tensions in the Indo-Pacific region. For Taiwan, the United States, and nearby nations like Japan and the Philippines, this latest move is a fresh indication of how Beijing is reshaping the balance of power at sea.

A Symbolic Journey

The Taiwan Strait is one of the most sensitive waterways in the world. It lies between mainland China and self-ruled Taiwan, a territory that Beijing claims as its own and has vowed to reunify—by force if necessary. Any Chinese ship or aircraft moving through this strait draws global attention, but the Fujian’s voyage is especially significant because of what the carrier represents.

Unveiled in 2022 and still undergoing trials until recently, the Fujian is China’s first fully homegrown aircraft carrier featuring advanced launch technology. Unlike its earlier carriers—the Liaoning and Shandong, which rely on ski-jump ramps—the Fujian uses electromagnetic catapults similar to those aboard the most advanced U.S. Navy carriers. This allows China to launch heavier aircraft with more weapons and fuel, extending their reach and combat power.

Simply put, the journey of the Fujian is not a routine maneuver. It is a statement by Beijing that it now possesses naval technology approaching that of the United States, long considered the unmatched leader in carrier design and power projection.

Taiwan on High Alert

Taiwan’s Ministry of Defense confirmed the movement of the Fujian and reported that its forces were closely monitoring Chinese naval activities. The island has faced constant military pressure in recent years, with near-daily incursions by Chinese fighter jets into its Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ).

For Taipei, the carrier’s sailing is both a strategic concern and a symbolic threat. It underlines China’s growing confidence and military ambition at a time when Taiwan is deepening security cooperation with the United States and other democratic partners. Defense experts in Taiwan worry that advanced carriers like the Fujian could be central to any future blockade or military campaign aimed at forcing the island into submission.

International Reactions: U.S. and Allies Watch Closely

The United States has repeatedly stated that it supports freedom of navigation in the Taiwan Strait, sending naval vessels through the area on a regular basis. Washington views China’s naval buildup as a direct challenge to its longstanding dominance in the Pacific.

• United States: Analysts believe the U.S. Navy will closely study the Fujian’s performance. While China is still years away from matching America’s vast carrier fleet in numbers and global capability, this voyage highlights rapid progress that cannot be ignored.

• Japan: Tokyo has stepped up its defense spending and regional cooperation, citing China’s military assertiveness around Taiwan and in the East China Sea. Japan is especially concerned that any crisis involving Taiwan could quickly spill over to its own territory.

• Philippines and Southeast Asia: Nations around the South China Sea see the Fujian’s presence as an extension of China’s broader goal of dominating critical sea lanes. Manila, in particular, has been strengthening its defense pact with Washington to counter Beijing’s growing pressure on disputed territories.

A Test of Fujian’s Capabilities

The Fujian is still in its early phase of deployment and had been undergoing extensive sea trials since its launch. Sailing through the Taiwan Strait may serve both as a training exercise and a political message. It demonstrates that China is ready to operationalize its newest asset in one of the most contested regions in the world.

Military experts note that showing the Fujian in a public voyage is aimed at multiple audiences:

• Domestic: To showcase Chinese achievements and strengthen national pride.

• Regional: To remind Taiwan of Beijing’s growing power.

• Global: To signal to the U.S. and its allies that China’s military modernization is advancing at speed.

Why This Matters

The Indo-Pacific is becoming the central arena of great power competition. China’s rise as a military giant threatens to tilt the balance of power away from the U.S.-led security order that has dominated for decades. The Fujian sailing is a clear marker of this transition.

• For Taiwan, it sharpens the sense of vulnerability and speeds up its efforts to modernize its defense.

• For the U.S. and Japan, it is a wake-up call about the narrowing technological gap.

• For Southeast Asia, it is a reminder that regional disputes are becoming increasingly tied to China’s larger ambitions.

A Battle for Influence

China’s message with this voyage is not only military but also political. It wants to show the world that it is no longer a regional power limited to coastal defense but a global player capable of projecting influence across oceans.

Yet, challenges remain. Aircraft carriers are powerful, but they demand enormous resources, advanced technology, and sophisticated support fleets. The U.S. Navy has decades of experience in carrier warfare; China is only beginning this journey. Moreover, the Fujian’s true capabilities will only be proven in time, once it carries out real operations with fighter jets taking off and landing in combat scenarios.

Still, the symbolism is undeniable. China is growing bolder in displaying its might. Each such move raises the risk of miscalculation in the Taiwan Strait, where even a small clash could spiral into a major conflict involving multiple powers.