China’s Largest Aircraft Carrier Fujian Sails Taiwan Strait, East China Sea

China's third and most advanced aircraft carrier, the Fujian, recently transited the Taiwan Strait and was detected sailing in the East China Sea by Japan's Self-Defense Forces, marking the first confirmed sightings by Japan. The Fujian, which features an electromagnetic catapult system unlike China's earlier carriers, is undergoing final sea trials including scientific research and training missions in contested waters such as the South China Sea and the Taiwan Strait. Chinese officials describe these activities as routine and not directed at any specific target, though the movements have heightened regional tensions given China's increasing military presence near Taiwan and disputed territories. Japan has expressed concern over China's expanding naval capabilities amid simultaneous operations by multiple Chinese carriers near Japanese islands and a prior incursion of Chinese military aircraft into Japanese airspace. The Fujian is a centerpiece of President Xi Jinping's goal to build a world-class military by 2049, with the carrier expected to enter full service following completion of engine and weapon system tests. Despite these military developments, economic relations between Japan and China have seen some improvement, illustrated by the resumption of seafood imports earlier this year.