The Chinese flag is seen in this illustration taken on May 30, 2022. REUTERS / Dado Ruvic / Illustration
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BEIJING, June 17 (Reuters) – China launched its third nationwide aircraft carrier, Fujian, designed and built nationwide on Friday, state media reported, sending a statement of intent to rival powers, including the United States. continues to modernize its army.
Champagne, colored ribbons, water cannons and smoke were used to celebrate the launch of the warship and the official appointment at a ceremony at the Jiangnan Shipyard in Shanghai.
Dozens of Chinese Navy personnel lined up in front of the ship and sang the national anthem at the ceremony, which was also attended by senior officials, including Xu Qiliang, vice chairman of the Central Military Commission.
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The aircraft carrier has a long-haul flight deck with a catapult launch system, according to state media.
Fujian will join Shandong, which was put into service in late 2019, and Liaoning, which China bought second-hand in Ukraine in 1998 and settled nationwide.
Only the United States, which has 11 aircraft carriers, has more such ships. Classified just below China, Britain has two in operation.
The launch of the Fujian demonstrates the growing capability of the Chinese military at a time of growing tension with the United States over Taiwan and Beijing’s claims to the South China Sea.
The new carrier was named after the coastal province of Fujian, which is just across the Taiwan Strait and is home to the Eastern People’s Liberation Army Theater Command.
Taiwan is a prosperous self-governing democracy. But China considers Taiwan its own territory and has never given up the use of force to bring the island under Beijing’s control.
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Report by Ryan Woo and Martin Pollard; edited by Richard Pullin and Stephen Coates
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