The Fujian ship has been in service for one year. Chinese military experts comment: The most ideal domestic port is in Taiwan

November 5 marks the first anniversary of the entry of China’s first electromagnetic catapult aircraft carrier Fujian into the fleet. In the past year, the Fujian ship completed its first actual maritime training after being commissioned, sailed through the Taiwan Strait several times, and conducted cross-sea area test training to continuously verify the cooperation between carrier-based aircraft and aircraft carriers and formation combat capabilities. Chinese military experts said that “the most ideal home port for the Fujian ship is Taiwan.”

According to “CCTV News”, less than half a month after the Fujian ship entered the fleet, it formed an aircraft carrier formation with multiple ships and completed its first practical training at sea. According to a report released by China Military Horn on November 18, 2025, the participating formations include Fujian, Yan’an, Tongliao and other warships. Training topics include formation navigation, combined ship-aircraft search and rescue, and carrier-based aircraft take-off and landing.

During this period, a variety of carrier-based aircraft, including the J-35, J-15T, J-15DT and KJ-600, completed multiple catapult takeoff and ship landing training to test electromagnetic catapult, recovery and deck operations capabilities. In the joint search and rescue theme, the formation coordinated ships and aircraft to complete the rescue and practiced emergency response procedures in accordance with emergency response instructions issued by the command post.

The Fujian ship officially joined the navy’s order of battle in Sanya, Hainan last year. Its hull number is “18” and its full load displacement exceeds 80,000 tons. The induction of the Fujian ship brings the Chinese Navy into the era of three aircraft carriers.

According to a report by online media Hong Kong 01, after the Fujian ship was commissioned, a Chinese military expert once said that “the most ideal home port is Taiwan.” The Fujian ship’s cross-sea voyage has also attracted Taiwan’s attention. On December 16, 2025, the Fujian ship passed north through the Taiwan Strait. The Taiwan military later released surveillance photos. This was the first time a Fujian ship was publicly reported sailing through the Taiwan Strait since its entry into the fleet.

According to the report, on June 23, the Taiwan military once again informed the Fujian warship when it sailed through the Taiwan Strait, adding that it would use combined intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance means to track its activities and release aerial footage. At the time, the Taiwan military was conducting a five-day “immediate war preparation exercise” starting on June 22. Chinese Ministry of National Defense spokesperson Zhang Xiaogang responded at a regular press conference on June 25 that this is a routine training conducted by the Fujian ship, and “we will continue to conduct it in the future.”

After the Fujian ship entered the fleet, Chinese navy spokesman Leng Guowei said that many of the equipment and technologies on the ship were actually used for the first time. Therefore, it is still necessary to conduct in-depth test verification, check the stability of platform systems, and arrange ship-to-aircraft adaptation and formation system training to gradually strengthen the actual combat capabilities. In addition, depending on factors such as combat readiness needs, port conditions, support capabilities and mission characteristics, the Fujian ship is permanently stationed at Sanya Military Port.