Two of China’s Aircraft Carriers Are Now Docked Together |
Last week, the People’s Liberation Army Navy’s (PLAN’s) newest and most advanced aircraft carrier, the Type 003 CNS Fujian, transited the Taiwan Strait and arrived at the Yuchi Naval Base in Qingdao on the northeastern coast of the East China Sea. Yuchi is also the homeport for the Type 001 CNS Liaoning, the PLAN’s first operational carrier. There had been speculation that the Type 003 would instead head to the Shanghai shipyard for maintenance following the recent shakedown cruise as it completes its sea trials.
The third Chinese aircraft carrier, and second to be domestically built from the keel up, was commissioned last month at a flag-presenting ceremony at the Sanya Naval Base in Hainan Province, located on the South China Sea. China’s President Xi Jinping was in attendance and boarded and inspected the vessel.
Displacing more than 80,000 tons, the Fujian is the largest warship built in the People’s Republic of China (PRC) and the first catapult-equipped carrier to enter service with the PLAN, significantly enhancing its naval aviation capabilities.
The arrival of CNS Fujian at........