Handover and commissioning of third aircraft carrier not far away, ministry says

The handover and commissioning of the CNS Fujian, China's third aircraft carrier, "will not be far away", a Defense Ministry spokesman Zhang Xiaogang said on Thursday.

At a regular news briefing in Beijing, Zhang made the remarks when asked about the carrier's possible commissioning after the Chinese navy announced on Monday that it had launched and recovered three types of aircraft from the CNS Fujian using cutting-edge electromagnetic systems.

Zhang said that J-15T, J-35, and KJ-600 carrier-based aircraft have successfully conducted catapult launches and landings on the Fujian, marking that the carrier has acquired electromagnetic catapult and recovery capabilities.

"This lays a solid foundation for integrating various carrier-based aircraft into the carrier battle group system and represents a milestone in the development of China's carrier," he said.

He added that the "Fujian's tests and training are progressing smoothly according to plan, and the day everyone is looking forward to will not be far off."

Responding to recent foreign media reports claiming that China is building a fourth, nuclear-powered carrier, Zhang said he was "not aware of the specific situation".

"What needs to be emphasized is that we always advance carrier construction in line with national security needs and the development of equipment and technology," he said.