China’s First Supercarrier Fujian Makes First Transit of Taiwan Strait During Service

The Republic of China Ministry of National Defence headquartered in Taipei reported on December 17 that the Chinese People’s Liberation Army Navy’s first supercarrier, the Fujian, sailed through the Taiwan Strait. The strait separates the internationally recognised People’s Republic of China on the mainland, and the Republic of China on Taiwan island, which both claim to be the sole governments of the Chinese nation and are currently in a state of civil war. This is the first time the Fujian sails through the strait while in service, although it previously transited on September 12 while en-route to carry out scientific research tests and training missions in the South China Sea. No aircraft were seen on the carrier’s flight deck during its latest transit, indicating that its transit may not have been intended as a show of force. 

The Fujian was commissioned into service on November 5, and is now permanently based at Sanya Military Port on Hainan Island, positioning it optimally for operations in the South China Sea, approximately 350 kilometres from the disputed Parcel Islands, but 1100 kilometres from Taiwan. The People’s Liberation Army Navy’s carrier fleet is not expected to play a central role in a potential conflict with the Republic of China Armed Forces on Taiwan, due to the widespread availability of long range fighters on bases across the Chinese mainland which could support operations. A primary role of carrier groups may instead be to form a distant blockade to prevent third parties such as Japan or the United States from intervening in such a conflict on the side of Taipei. 

At 316 metres long, and 76 metres wide, the Fujian is by far the largest warship in the world outside the U.S. Navy, and is one of just two operational carriers alongside the USS Gerald Ford that uses an electromagnetic catapult launch system to allow for takeoffs of heavier aircraft. Compared to U.S. Navy Nimitz class and Gerald Ford class supercarriers, the Fujian is disadvantaged due to its lack of a fourth runway and launch system, meaning it can only launch fighters and fixed wing support aircraft at 75 percent the rate. It nevertheless benefits from a significantly more modern air wing, much lower maintenance requirements, and its position as the world’s only carrier capable of launching fifth generation fighters using catapult launch systems. The Republic of China Armed Forces, by contrast, rely on much older and less capable lightweight fourth generation fighters, with the service’ efforts to procure ‘4+ generation’ F-16 Block 70 fighters having been hampered by serious delivery delays.