China’s Fujian Carrier Signals Accelerating Threat to U.S. Naval Dominance

With the recent commissioning of its third aircraft carrier, the Fujian, China's ambitions to contest American naval supremacy have taken a decisive step forward. As China fields more carriers than any nation except the United States, it is clear that Beijing is strategically focused on projecting power deep into contested waters stretching from the East China Sea to the Taiwan Strait. The Fujian represents a significant technological advancement for China's navy with its electromagnetic catapult launch system, a feature previously exclusive to America's newest carriers. This innovation allows China to launch heavier, fully armed warplanes—including early-warning aircraft—without reliance on land...